House Agriculture Committee chairman says he's looking to reduce direct payments to farmers

The chairman of the House Agriculture Committee said he's starting work on the 2012 Farm Bill and will look to cut direct government payments to farmers. "In my opinion, that money should be used to support the average, middle-sized commercial farmer, because they're the people that produce most of our food and I think that's the part of the system we really want to protect," Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson of Minnesota told Dan Gunderson of Minnesota Public Radio. Peterson said he hoped to use the money saved by cutting direct payments to create a better safety net.

"Peterson said he will not increase overall spending on farm programs, adding he is willing to cut the farm bill only if all government programs are trimmed," Gunderson writes. Peterson noted 80 percent of the Farm Bill spending goes for food stamps and nutrition, programs which no one wants to cut. He said work on the 2012 bill should begin this spring. (Read more)