Senate Ag Committee Ranking Democrat Debbie Stabenow says she is optimistic about getting a new farm bill written and providing an adequate safety net. However, she says it will take putting aside partisan politics and tactics like those used in the recent budget debate.

Stabenow says she’s disappointed that in the budget debate there wasn’t more willingness to help both dairy and cotton producers.

She is hopeful they can still find short-term assistance for hurting cotton and dairy farmers, and also as a part of the new farm bill.

Stabenow says the farm safety net needs to work for all commodities and all producers.