Two experienced hands with Republican ties believe it will be challenging for Congress to pass a new Farm Bill before the November 2012 election, the Washington newsletter Agri-Pulse reports. Former House Agriculture Committee chairman Larry Combest and Chuck Conner, president and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives and former deputy secretary of agriculture, made separate appearances before the National Association of Farm Broadcasting.
"There is a lot of concern now that we're looking at a 2013 Farm Bill," Conner said, noting that Congress has never written a Farm Bill in a presidential eledction year. The timing and pressure to reduce spending leave him wondering "whether Farm Bill writers can draft a functional safety net," Agri-Pulse reports. Both Conner and Combest doubt the Senate will "go along with the House spending blueprint for farm programs," which calls for cuts, Agri-Pulse reports.
Conner predicted that reduced federal spending may lead to crop insurance becoming the key farm subsidy. "I think we are headed in the direction of crop insurance becoming Title I, frankly, of the Farm Bill going forward," he said. Combest disagrees, and says alternative support mechanisms must be considered. Agri-Pulse is subscription-only, but offers a free, four-issue trial subscription.
"There is a lot of concern now that we're looking at a 2013 Farm Bill," Conner said, noting that Congress has never written a Farm Bill in a presidential eledction year. The timing and pressure to reduce spending leave him wondering "whether Farm Bill writers can draft a functional safety net," Agri-Pulse reports. Both Conner and Combest doubt the Senate will "go along with the House spending blueprint for farm programs," which calls for cuts, Agri-Pulse reports.
Conner predicted that reduced federal spending may lead to crop insurance becoming the key farm subsidy. "I think we are headed in the direction of crop insurance becoming Title I, frankly, of the Farm Bill going forward," he said. Combest disagrees, and says alternative support mechanisms must be considered. Agri-Pulse is subscription-only, but offers a free, four-issue trial subscription.
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