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The rising cost of the Farm Bill

Senator Sherrod Brown (1)_webThe downturn in commodity prices is adding to the cost of the Farm Bill. 

Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), a member of the Senator Agriculture Committee says while he’s concerned with the way it looks, he’s also been around long enough to know that over the course of the Farm Bill it will save taxpayers money. 

“Getting rid of direct payments was a huge victory for taxpayers and it’s what farmers wanted,” Brown said. “Having a safety net that works is going to cost money some years because you’re going to have low prices or low yields, but at the same time in more normal years and better years taxpayers will save a lot of money.” 

Another concern of Senator Brown is the proposed House Republican budget that cuts $1 billion from the ag budget. 

“The budget writers among House Republicans don’t apparently see agriculture the way most of agriculture sees it and the way I see it, and are running counter to agriculture’s and farmers interest in this bill,” said the Senate Ag Committee member from Ohio. “We will oppose it and I think we will likely have success, but people need to be vigilant about it.” 

Some 400 groups have come out in opposition to the House Republican’s proposed cuts to the ag budget.

Audio: U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

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