Farm Bill Hearing Today in Wichita, Kansas

August 25, 2011

By: Jim Wiesemeyer, Pro Farmer Washington Consultant

via a special arrangement with Informa Economics, Inc.

Roberts says 'ag has big bull's eye on its back...unwarranted'

NOTE: This column is copyrighted material, therefore reproduction or retransmission is prohibited under U.S. copyright laws.

Members of the Senate Agriculture Committee today will hold a morning hearing titled, Looking Ahead: Kansas and the 2012 Farm Bill. The confab is being hosted by Senate Ag Ranking Member Pat Roberts (R-Kan.).

Just how much spending will be allowed for the next omnibus farm bill is still murky ahead of Super Committee action to find at least $1.2 trillion in budget cuts/revenue over 10 years.
"Ag has had a big bull's eye on its back," Roberts said in an Associated Press article. "It has been unwarranted."
Roberts said agriculture will do it's part in helping cut spending, but he wants to do the cutting with a scalpel, not a meat axe.

A growing number of farm bill stakeholders are focusing on the need to keep a viable crop insurance program, with a wide consensus now in place that the around $5 billion in annual direct payments will see a major cut ahead.