House Ag Chair Watching Senate Closely

Speaking to members of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting in Washington, D.C. this week - House Ag Committee Chairman Frank Lucas expressed complete confidence that Senate Ag Chair Debbie Stabenow would move heaven and earth to get her work on the farm bill done in the Senate. On Thursday - her committee advanced their version of the farm bill. Lucas called it an important first step in the development of the next farm bill - adding that he looks forward to concluding the House Ag Committee's hearing process and working with Ranking Member Collin Peterson and committee members to write the House bill in the coming weeks.

Lucas has been watching the Senate's farm bill work closely and has his thoughts on what the final measure must include. Lucas says a federal comprehensive farm bill - in the Commodity Title - must address all regions and all crops. He says everyone should be able to participate. Lucas is disappointed that the Senate bill's commodity title does not work for all of agriculture. Instead of providing a viable safety net - he says the bill locks in profit for a couple of commodities. The chief priority for Lucas is making certain the commodity title is equitable and provides a safety net for all covered commodities and all regions of the country. He says a shallow loss program is not a safety net. He says it doesn't provide protection against price declines over multiple years and does not work for all commodities.

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