Still No Farm Bill As Congress Goes on Break
By: Megan Hunter
Updated: October 2, 2012
Waiting! That's what Alabama farmers are doing as they wait for Congress to make a move on a new Farm bill.
The latest Farm bill expired on Sunday, and since then, Congress has left Washington for a break.
There's still one more chance for Congress to pass a new Farm bill before they have to start making decisions on their farms.
That chance won't be until mid-November, during the lame duck session.
"They have gone on recess without acting on the Farm bill, which means that the best we can hope for is after the elections when they come back during the lame duck session. We hope that they can take care of the Farm bill," said Randy Griggs, the executive director of the Peanut Producers Association.
U.S. Congresswoman Martha Roby said she is confident the bill will be passed.
"I think that members of the committee on agriculture are ready to help all of our colleagues understand that when America can't feed America, it's a huge national security threat," she said. "We need to make sure that our farmers can do just that. Farm."
If the House version of the Farm bill passes, farmers cannot expect direct payments anymore.
Instead, they are hoping Congress will increase other aspects of the safety net they currently have in place.
