The farm bill expired at midnight last night as the conference committee was not able to reach an agreement by the deadline. So far the committee has said there will not be an extension. American Sheep Industry Association Executive Director Peter Orwick says the sheep industry will not be negatively impacted by farm policy moving back to permanent 1949 law.

He says the conference will still need to complete a deal before the November elections or face the possibility of having to start all over under a new Congress.

Orwick says the new farm bill contained an important provision they supported that would provide funding for minor pharmaceutical products that are important in sheep production.

Orwick says they are also supporting funding for the FMD Vaccine Bank, which they think will make it through to the final farm bill.