Pressure is growing to provide disaster assistance for this year’s drought in the western United States and look for a longer-term fix. Former House Agriculture Committee Chair Collin Peterson says its been encouraging to see some flexibility in current programs and even some additional funding for WHIP Plus to help farmers.

However, Peterson says there’s growing talk about a permanent disaster program. He’s been talking with current House Ag Committee Chair David Scott about it but doesn’t think there is an appetite in Congress for it.

And he doesn’t think additional adhoc disaster assistance or a permanent program is sustainable.

Peterson says the biggest policy item the ag committees is tackling is establishing a carbon program, which will be very complicated. The former Congressman has formed his own consulting firm and has been working with farm groups on ag policy plus speaking at events like the AgPHD Field Day. He’ll also be at Farmfest.

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