Farm Bill Flap

The Farm Bill Flap. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Line On Agriculture.

Ag producers all across the country are scratching their heads over the House’ inactivity on bringing their version of the Food, Farm and Jobs Act to the floor. Even other representatives are wondering like Washington Congressman Doc Hastings.

HASTINGS: That is very fluid. There are rumors going around that it will not be brought to the floor. Honestly I know it will not be brought to the floor before the August district work period.

Now we are hearing that the House Ag Committee is looking at merely an extension of the current bill. House Speaker John Boehner says he plans to deal with emergency livestock drought aid in the House next week - but four-working days before the August recess the 2012 Farm Bill is not on the remaining schedule. It was the third week for the farm bill issue. Each week before - Speaker Boehner had answered the same boilerplate comment - no decisions have been made on the farm bill yet. Now the clock is up. The House adjourns for its regular August recess this Friday - just eight-working days remain in September before the current farm bill expires - and the 2012 Farm Bill is not on this week’s schedule. When asked about renewing livestock disaster aid next week either as part of a farm bill or an extension - Boehner answered just part of the question.

BOEHNER: I do believe that the House will address the livestock disaster program that unfortunately in the last farm bill was only authorized for 4 years.

Boehner suggested last week crop insurance was enough to get producers through the drought - but that comment quickly drew fire from ag lawmakers and producers who cited the livestock issue. Boehner adjusted his answer this week.

BOEHNER: We’re continuing to work with Chairman Lucas and the members of his committee on an appropriate path forward.

But Boehner wouldn’t answer whether that’s as part of a farm bill or an extension. Meanwhile farms, ranchers and orchardists all across the country are dealing a myriad of disasters from heat and drought to hail and rain damage while many disaster programs have already expired. Last week Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack did what he could with the programs he has left to help farmers.

VILSACK: We’re announcing expansion of land that can be used for haying and grazing. What we do know is this, livestock operators in particular are impacted because what they expected to have their livestock graze on is not there or is not of sufficient quantity or quality as anticipated and the cost to replace it with feed are obviously going to be substantially higher.

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