The Farm Bill is a massive piece of legislation that guides the country’s food and agricultural policy. Its most recent version accounted for almost one trillion dollars in crop insurance, subsidies, and nutrition programs like food stamps.
The bill is supposed to be renewed every five years, with a new edition due in 2018. That’s why a group of lawmakers spent a couple days in and around San Angelo last week, conducting the first of many listening sessions that will guide the bill’s construction.
Ron Smith, the editor of Southwest Farm Press, based in Denton, covered one of those sessions. He says Texas farmers are particularly concerned about the treatment of cotton in the most recent farm bill, and how it will fare in the 2018 version, under consideration now. Cotton was removed from Title 1 of the 2014 farm bill, meaning that cotton farmers receive less price support for their crop.
Rep. Mike Connaway (R-Midland) chairs the House Agriculture committee. Smith says farmers are impressed by Connaway, who has said he hopes to pass the farm bill on time, this fall.
Written by Shelly Brisbin.
