House Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway wants to begin work on the next farm bill as soon as possible. He says the process is already underway as the House Ag Committee will hold a hearing next Wednesday to help set the stage.

Conaway says he and his colleagues will be working hard to get the farm bill finished on time. The Chairman is seeking floor time in front of the full House for the farm bill later this year, if the legislative schedule allows.

When it comes to changes to the farm bill, he says he doesn’t expect any wholesale changes like they did with the 2014 legislation. However, they will tweak the dairy, cotton and ARC-County programs.

Conaway says a strong safety-net has helped farmers and ranchers weather the recent downturn in the agriculture economy. He says crop insurance has played a vital role for agriculture, and has worked well for producers during the recent challenges.

The first field hearing held by the Senate Agriculture Committee will be February 23rd in Manhattan, Kansas.