Congress Extends Farm Bill

Farmers in Wisconsin could soon be breathing a sigh of relief.It appears Congress may take action on a new Farm Bill.

The bill won’t last five years as is typically the case, but an extension would give farmers an idea of what to expect in 2013. Party leaders are considering putting a one-year extension or a one month extension to a full vote in the House.A third option would extend only dairy policy. If no action is taken, dairy prices could skyrocket.

The original Farm Bill covered everything from food stamps to crop insurance.It expired in October, but partisan gridlock in the House has kept a new version in something of holding pattern.The Senate passed its own Farm Bill in July.House Speaker John Boehner has reportedly been hesitant to bring a full five-year bill to the floor because it may not have enough Republican votes to pass. Disagreements over food stamp funding are partly to blame.

Food stamps make up around 80-percent of the Farm Bill’s 500-billion dollar price tag.