Farm Bill Delayed, Impacts Farmer's Futures
By: Cherish McMillan
Updated: August 16, 2012
WASHINGTON D.C. -- The massive farm bill that is supposed to be renewed by the end of September has been delayed
Right now one of the most important things to farmers is the drought.
Farmer Michael Heller says, "We are very, very dry and it affects us in many ways certainly with our vegetables we go to irrigation, but we can't irrigate all the fields."
Produce isn't the only thing affected. There are challenges farmers have to face feeding their livestock.
"With the cows the biggest problem for me is typically I'm looking at a second cutting of hay this time of year which is important for me for my winter feed for the animals," says Heller.
Every 5 years, Congress comes together to pass a huge piece of legislation called the Farm Bill covering everything from crop subsidies to food programs. But this year, the process has stalled.
Texas Congressman Randy Neugebauer says he knows farmers are looking for help.
Neugebauer says, "There is some discussion about if we are not able to get the farm bill passed in the near term possibly having some drought disaster relief for farmers and ranchers"
The delayed bill is preventing farmers from being able to make future financial plans for their farms
Dale Moore, Deputy Executive Dir of public policy for the American Farm Bureau Federation says, "They need the risk management tools that are in the farm bill, they need the marketing tools that are in the farm bill to help them get through the next 5 years and plan accordingly."
With Congress scheduled to start it's summer recess, it looks like any final decision on the farm bill will have to wait.
Right now one of the most important things to farmers is the drought.
Farmer Michael Heller says, "We are very, very dry and it affects us in many ways certainly with our vegetables we go to irrigation, but we can't irrigate all the fields."
Produce isn't the only thing affected. There are challenges farmers have to face feeding their livestock.
"With the cows the biggest problem for me is typically I'm looking at a second cutting of hay this time of year which is important for me for my winter feed for the animals," says Heller.
Every 5 years, Congress comes together to pass a huge piece of legislation called the Farm Bill covering everything from crop subsidies to food programs. But this year, the process has stalled.
Texas Congressman Randy Neugebauer says he knows farmers are looking for help.
Neugebauer says, "There is some discussion about if we are not able to get the farm bill passed in the near term possibly having some drought disaster relief for farmers and ranchers"
The delayed bill is preventing farmers from being able to make future financial plans for their farms
Dale Moore, Deputy Executive Dir of public policy for the American Farm Bureau Federation says, "They need the risk management tools that are in the farm bill, they need the marketing tools that are in the farm bill to help them get through the next 5 years and plan accordingly."
With Congress scheduled to start it's summer recess, it looks like any final decision on the farm bill will have to wait.
