Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler sits down each week with Southern Farm Network’s Rhonda Garrison to discuss “Today’s Topic.”
While much attention in Congress is focused on avoiding the “fiscal cliff,” a top question in the agriculture community is: Will Congress do anything about the farm bill? Options include passing a new farm bill (which the Senate did earlier this year), passing an extension, or taking no action until after the first of the year.
Commissioner Troxler says that, as president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, he is continuing to work with his counterparts across the country to urge Congress to act on a farm bill before adjourning.
There is speculation that lawmakers will pass an extension, but some congressmen, including Minnesota’s Collin Peterson, ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, say they are opposed to doing that.
One thing that could prompt Congress to act: Both the Senate’s and House Agriculture Committee’s versions of the farm bill include cost savings that could factor into a solution to avoiding the fiscal cliff.
Click below to listen to the Commissioner and Rhonda talk about the continuing saga of the farm bill, and find out which sector of agriculture would feel the effects first if Congress doesn’t act on this legislation.
What do you think Congress should do about the farm bill? Share your thoughts in the comments.
[Audio:http://info.ncagr.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Troxler_12-4.mp3|titles=Today’s Topic for Dec. 4]
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