The farm bill now has a major supporter, one who can clear the way for a vote in the U.S. House.
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio announced Wednesday that he would back farm bill legislation when it comes up for consideration in the House.
"I've got concerns about the farm bill as I told our members but doing nothing means that we get no changes in the farm program, no changes in the nutrition program. And, as a result, I'm going to vote for the farm bill to make sure that the good work of the agriculture committee gets to a conference so that we can get the kind of changes that people want in our nutrition programs and our farm programs."
Last year, Boehner did not bring the farm bill that was passed by the House Ag Committee up for a vote. Congress then resorted to a one-year extension of the 2008 farm bill which expires in September. The Senate approved its latest version of a new five-year farm bill on Monday.
The House could take up the farm bill as early as this coming Monday.
Source: brownfieldagnews.com