House Ag Committee Chair Mike Conaway has sent a draft of the farm bill to the Congressional Budget Office for review. While the committee hasn’t seen any details yet, at least one member, Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, says if he doesn’t like the draft he’ll vote against it and work on something better in 2019. Minnesota Land Stewardship Policy Program Organizer Ben Anderson says that is unacceptable because the farm bill is needed this year to help those who are struggling financially.
He says one of the biggest challenges for the House and Senate Ag Committees in drafting the legislation, will be to find enough funding for an effective program.
Anderson says his group’s priorities for the farm bill include making sure there’s a strong conservation title, a robust and improved risk management program and assistance for beginning farmers and ranchers.
House Ag Committee Chairman Michael Conaway had stated they wanted to have the farm bill done by the end of 2017, but other health care and tax reform derailed that timetable.
