via a special arrangement with Informa Economics, Inc.

White House meeting today | Three major farm officials to speak at forum today

The following are late developments regarding new farm bill issues:

• USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and Senate Ag Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) will reportedly meet at the White House today, with the agenda being farm bill topics

• House Ag Chairman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), Stabenow and Vilsack today all speak at the Farm Journal Forum in Washington, D.C., cosponsored by Informa Economics

• Ag panel staff and the key lawmakers focusing on farmer safety net program differences between the Senate-passed and the pending House farm bills

• Odds favor the final farm bill having a producer choice including revenue or target price option

• Key difference in Senate and House revenue programs is how many acres are paid on – House bill limits acres to base acres; Senate takes different approach

• Decision on funding for food stamps/SNAP now up to congressional leaders and White House

• Some type of transition to new farm bill will likely occur, with extension of 2008 Farm Bill likely

• SURE program could be extended for 2013 if supporters have budget offset, which they say they do

• Direct payments could still be made for 2013 crops if '08 Farm Bill is extended

• Any new farm bill budget baseline next year expected to have only marginal impacts

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