Final Recommendations

Final Recommendations. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Line On Agriculture.

I have tried my hand at sculpting and carving and I’m not real good at it. I asked someone what the secret was and they told me it was easy. Just cut away the parts that don’t look like the finished product. That might be a bit too simple but then maybe Congress could use that same advice. Committees are supposed to have recommendations to the Super Committee charged with reducing the federal deficit by the end of the week. Iowa GOP Senator Chuck Grassley says there’s an effort in the Senate Ag Committee to get a bipartisan suggestion together.

GRASSLEY: And if we don’t get a bi-partisan agreement in the agriculture committee I’m sure the agriculture Republicans are going to have suggestions but I know right now on agriculture, there’s a real possibility of getting a bi-partisan agreement. Understand though that the super committee can accept or reject or change in any way any suggestions we have and from that standpoint I think they would be smart to take the suggestions of the various committees because I think they have a better chance of getting the support of the members of that committee for their final product.

Grassley says the bipartisan recommendation would include agricultural savings of between 20-billion and 33-billion dollars.

GRASSLEY: Outlining a safety net for farmers that’s probably a lot different than counter-cyclical and direct payments and outlining a safety net that would have great emphasis on revenue sharing and on crop insurance.

Grassley says there seems to be some belief that nutrition programs - which make up the vast majority of farm bill spending - shouldn’t be cut at all. But Grassley says several Republicans are taking the view that you should at least be able to get one-percent out of any program.

GRASSLEY: I would say that anybody that thinks anything can’t be cut a little bit, isn’t living in the real world.

Once the super committee has received recommendations - they will have until December 2nd to formally report proposals. December 23rd is the deadline for the House and Senate to vote on their proposals without amendment.

That’s today’s Line On Agriculture. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.