Debt deal could spur action on new Farm Bill

The debt-ceiling deal that calls for an even bigger deal "could force 2012 Farm Bill decisions to be made much sooner than expected," reports Ken Anderson of Brownfield Network. "Washington watchers say that deal may force the agriculture committees to decide which ag programs live and die by Thanksgiving of this year," Anderson writes. "Mostly, it depends on whether the new 'super committee' on deficit reduction can come up with an acceptable plan by November 23."

Rep. Collin Peterson of Minnesota, the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, "is suggesting that agriculture programs are likely to fare better under the debt deal if the 'super committee' fails to develop recommendations or cannot get its plan passed by Congress," Anderson reports, because the deal would require across-the-board cuts "that would likely result in lower cuts for agriculture than if the committee targeted specific programs." (Read more)