News

Lincoln says 2008 farm bill is policy benchmark

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas says it’s important to strengthen the farm safety net in the 2012 farm bill. In her statement opening the first Senate Agriculture Committee hearing Wednesday on the 2012 farm bill, Lincoln said safety net features should come from the kitchen tables of farm country rather than from tables at the U.S. Capitol.

“More than anything else, I think most American farm and ranch families simply want steady, predictable, supportive policies coming out of Washington,” said the Committee Chairman during her statement to open the hearing, “and for us to otherwise get out their way.”

At Wednesday’s hearing in Washington, D.C., Lincoln said any changes to U.S. farm policy in the 2012 legislation should be done for the sake of benefiting farmers. If that is not the case, she says current law should be the benchmark.

“Rather than start from scratch or from new-fangled ideas cooked up in Washington or in some college professor’s office, we need to reassure our farmers and ranchers that we will start where we left off, the 2008 farm bill,” said Chairman Lincoln.

The Senate Agriculture Committee hearing is the first of several leading up to congressional action on the next farm bill. The House Agriculture Committee has already been holding 2012 farm bill hearings at several locations around the country.

Add Comment

Your email address will not be published.


 

Stay Up to Date

Subscribe for our newsletter today and receive relevant news straight to your inbox!