| Collin Peterson (D-MN), the outgoing House Ag chair, made some news the other day in an interview he gave to the show AgriTalk. In a recent interview on that same show, the new House Ag chair Frank Lucas (R-OK) said he wanted to put off writing the 2012 farm bill until 2012. This is a change from Peterson's plan to get started in 2010 (which he did) and continue working through 2011. When asked what he thought about the plan to delay it, Peterson said he agrees with Frank. Why is that? Well, first of all, he said, the committee will have a number of new members who need to get up to speed. But probably more importantly, the new House Republicans are looking for money in the budget to cut. Why put the Farm Bill on the cutting board now while their knives are sharp? Wait a year until they are a little less zealous about cutting and THEN bring it up.
Peterson's got a great point here. Besides, although he didn't say it outright, there's a chance that delaying work on the 2012 Farm Bill will push it into 2013... AFTER the Congress elected in 2012 takes office. That might give us a friendlier Congress. (On the other hand, it might also give us a worse Congress. Hard to tell this far in advance.)
Peterson was also asked his thoughts on Lucas' idea to potentially cut the number of acres in conservation programs. Peterson said he was against this. (YES!) He noted that these programs, which pay farmers to NOT farm on sensitive land, were originally intended to reduce the supply of commodities on the market, but now they are truly environmental programs AND that many of the lands enrolled in the programs should NOT be farmed on. Hallelujah! Let's hope he puts up a good fight on this when the 2012 farm bill debate actually begins.
UPDATE: Frank Lucas has posted his priorities for the Ag Committee on the Ag Committee home page. |
