House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas told reporters this week that the recent EPA decision to lower next year’s Renewable Fuel Standard target could impact some farm bill decisions. He noted that the downward trend in corn has the potential to pull prices for other crops down as well. As cash corn prices continue to slip.
Lucas said there’s a sense of urgency among some who might have thought they didn’t need a farm bill. He said the EPA’s decision strengthens the hand of farm bill conferees that support boosting target prices to protect farmers from a downward price spiral. Ultimately – Lucas said the EPA made the case for a safety net that will work.