The House Agriculture Committee will again hold a hearing on the ag economy today (February 6th) as the committee continues to take steps towards the next farm bill. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway, says the economic situation is much different now, then when they were in the process of writing the 2014 legislation.
The committee has compiled a draft of the farm bill and is awaiting a cost analysis from the Congressional Budget Office. Conaway’s office says the draft will be released when all titles of the bill have a score, or price tag, associated with them.
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue will speak with lawmakers during the hearing. Perdue has traveled the nation since becoming Secretary, hearing from farmers and ranchers.
Conaway told the crop insurance industry Monday that renewal of the farm bill means a potential for attacks on crop insurance. Speaking at the Crop Insurance Industry Annual Convention in Arizona, the Texas Republican told attendees a fight looms on crop insurance in Congress.
Regarding an improved safety net for dairy and cotton producers, Conaway says those changes should be included in any must-pass legislation that comes up before the farm bill is considered.
