There is roughly six months left before the new Farm Bill is due.
In that time, House Ag Committee Chair, Glenn GT Thompson says that the U.S. needs to get financially secure, and warns there is a danger the Farm Bill will not get done on time.
According to Thompson, “There are really only three options for the Farm Bill, you let it expire. Well, that reverts back to Dust Bowl-era language— that hurts every American farmer and every American family. That is not an option. Number two, we can do an extension, and like an NFL referee, I’ll keep that yellow flag in my pocket.”
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says that a major part of his hopes for this year’s Farm Bill are examing ways to create new revenue streams for U.S. producers.
Right now, more than 80 percent of U.S. farmers rely on some type of off-farm income.
