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Smith: Needs of consumers, producers must strike balance in farm bill

Nebraska Congressman Adrian Smith says the next farm bill will likely reflect a balance of needs between producers and consumers.

He tells Brownfield one example is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program because some lawmakers want to expand the program and others won’t. “You look at what the absolute needs are. What is working and what isn’t?  Standing on the principle of what’s appropriate, what’s not. The fact of the matter is the politics are involved here. We need to ultimately arrive at a workable policy that can get enough votes.”

Smith says his priorities include ensuring crop insurance and expanding the funding for market access programs like the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Program. “These are great opportunities to promote our products.”

The farm bill expires at the end of the moth, and Smith says he expects a short extension.