Senate Farm Bill - Maybe
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson. Senate Ag Chair John Boozman claims his work on a bipartisan farm bill is about to bear fruit.
He says steep prices for everything continues to plague farmers, which are all reasons to update farm policy …
BOOZMAN … “We have a tremendous opportunity before us to update farm policies in ‘farm bill two-point-0.’ I look forward to releasing text very soon that incorporates many bipartisan measures, and just as importantly, the priorities of farmers.”
Ranking member Amy Klobuchar said recent farm bill talks have been positive, but GOP-led SNAP sharing is still a sticking point …
KLOBUCHAR … “I think people made it clear they’re concerned about the inequity of the SNAP shifts to the states. The big error rate states getting off for two-years and then, the entire Midwest, not.”
Ag Democrats continued to complain to Ag Secretary Brook Rollins that tariffs and Mideast war are largely to blame for lost farm income and bankruptcies.
But Rollins counters the tariffs brought 19 new trade deals and cut the Ag trade deficit nearly in half …
ROLLINS … “Corn exports are going to be record-breaking. We expect a 35 percent increase in volume in corn exports, dairy exports are going to be up almost ten percent, sorghum is going to be up almost 100 percent, tree nuts up almost 11 percent, ethanol up at least 11 percent, and probably more. Wheat exports are up eight percent, and soybean oil is up 129 percent.”
But Rollins admits the farm economy continues to face “serious headwinds.”
