Farm Bill Conferees Hold Their First Public Meeting Wednesday

The House and Senate conferees have held their first public meeting to hammer a compromised farm bill. House Ag Committee Chairman Frank Lucas said at the meeting

Lucas: "We face some daunting challenges -- that we are working in a very complicated environment to craft a very technical bill."

At least one item that it sounds like all of the conferees agreed upon is that there must be compromise to reach a completed Farm Bill.

National Cattlemen's Beef Association Executive Director of Government Affairs Kristina Butts urges NCBA member to continue talking to their U.S. senators and representatives.

Butts: "You know Congress always seems to do better when they have a deadline that is approaching and a looming deadline. That is where it is going to be key to make sure that our membership and the grassroots continue to weigh in with their members of Congress. When they are back home during their recess periods or their work periods for the district that week, making sure that you are talking to them at their town hall meetings, calling their offices and visiting with their staff -- just letting them know that there is overall support for the farm bill. A lot of our folks would like to put this issue to rest and quit talking about a farm bill since it has been three years now and we've had an extension. We do not want another extension of the farm bill and that is our message to Congress. No more extensions -- let's get this bill wrapped up and let's get it enacted."