A one-size-fits-all approach is something Ag Committee members in Congress have been fighting against regarding the farm bill. House Ag Committee Chairman Frank Lucas believes all crops need a farm program that protects them from multiyear price drops. Lucas says the Senate bill’s shallow loss revenue program that would cover some losses beyond crop insurance won’t provide a proper safety if prices plummet. A farm bill has to be written for the bad times – he says – and he intends to include a shallow loss program and target price program in the House bill.
The House Ag Committee will hold its final subcommittee hearings next week – and an aide says the committee expects to markup their version of the bill in June. Lucas says the Senate may even take up the farm bill on the floor before his committee goes to markup. Lucas is hopeful House Speaker John Boehner will allow the bill to go to the floor on a modified rule – however – he says the committee must pass a bill before Boehner decides.
Source: NAFB News Service