2013 is fast approaching and Congress has yet to make a decision on a new farm bill. The 2008 farm bill expired September 30, and the deadline to pass an extension or a new bill is Tuesday.
Many programs designed to stabilize the agriculture industry and assure fair prices for both producers and consumers are tied to the farm bill.
Door and Kewaunee Counties Farm Service Agent Tim Siehr says the Farm Service Agency administers farm bill programs and even though things look uncertain right now, he thinks Congress will act soon.
If Congress doesn’t take action in time, local dairy farmer Bill Brey says the industry would revert to a law from 1949. Under that law the government would have to pay the producers higher price supports for milk, corn, wheat and other ag commodities, resulting in higher prices for consumers.
Before the bill expired in September, the Senate passed a new bill but the House of Representatives could not get its own version put to a vote. Reports from Washington D.C. Friday showed Senate and House leaders scrambling to write an extension with the intention to pass something by Tuesday.
