The Hill News

Agriculture is not a red or blue issue, but the framework of what built America. Most of our Founding Fathers were farmers, and understood the value of producing goods at home rather than only relying on imports to sustain our young nation. Today American agricultural is as strong as it’s ever been, but is poised again to take a backseat in Congress when producers need action.

The remainder of the 112th Congress is likely to be consumed by the debate of a variety of long term pieces of legislation, including corporate tax-reform, surface transportation funding, and debt reduction provisions. Unfortunately, the likelihood of Congress taking up long term agricultural reform legislation, commonly known as the Farm Bill, is looking increasingly less promising. This will leave the engine of the world’s most efficient agriculture industry wavering in the uncertainty of what the future holds.

When typically bipartisan bills such as surface transportat! ion reform start becoming political theater, one has to wonder what will come of legislation that just 4 years ago passed with over 300 aye votes.

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