Republican legislators offer differing views on splitting farm bill; nutrition is the hot topic

While speaking on Tuesday in Washington to the produce organization United Fresh, two Republican legislators expressed very different opinions about whether or not the nutrition program should be included in the Farm Bill or in separate legislation, reports Agri-Pulse, a Washington newsletter.

Rep. Doc Hastings (R-Wash.), who is retiring at the end this term, "said the current ratio of nutrition to agricultural programs—nutrition funding accounts for 83 percent of farm bill spending—is 'unsustainble,' and that a stand-alone farm bill wouldn't be all that bad," Agri-Pulse writes.

Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) had a different opinion. Roberts, the ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, "told the same group he thought the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program 'begged for reform,'" Agri-Pulse writes. "Roberts pointed to the successful coalition farm and nutrition groups enjoyed in the past and said splitting the bill could force the legislation to get 'wrapped up in something else that wouldn't be called a farm bill.'" Agri-Pulse is subscription only, but a free trial is available by clicking here.