The House Ag Committee held a farm bill listening session at Farmfest yesterday with more than two dozen people providing testimony. House Ag Committee Chair Mike Conaway says in Minnesota, and other areas of the country, the resounding message they’re hearing is the farm bill needs to provide an adequate safety net with the poor state of the farm economy. However, that means more of a tweak than an overhaul of the current program.

House Ag Ranking Member and Minnesota Congressman Collin Peterson says surprisingly farmers testified that enhancement of the crop insurance program is more important than the Title 1 safety net provided in the farm bill.

The big key is going to be finding money for the farm bill. Chairman Conaway says the committee is facing a potential $10 billion cut based on the 2018 House budget.

Conaway also told the crowd he and Peterson are committed to getting a farm bill done by the end of the year.