Ag Community Mixed On Farm Bill Extension

The U.S. averted falling off the fiscal cliff and in the process extended the 2008 Farm Bill for the rest of the fiscal year. South Dakota Farm Bureau President Scott VanderWal says the outcome of the action was a mixed bag. They did get a permanent fix to estate taxes with a $5 million exemption per spouse which was a victory.

However, VanderWal says this deal doesn’t do anything to avert the $16 trillion deficit, which is a real concern.

American Farm Bureau lobbyist Mary Kay Thatcher says this also essentially restarts the farm bill process.

And unfortunately the farm bill extension left out livestock disaster assistance and funding for other important farm programs.

She says it’s unclear if livestock disaster assistance can be attached to the Hurricane Sandy disaster bill.

Ag Community Mixed on Farm Bill Extension