A House subcommittee hearing appeared to be the first unofficial step in development of the 2018 Farm Bill. The Hagstrom Report says farm leaders appeared before a House Ag General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Subcommittee to testify about the importance of commodity supports. They also spoke about changes needed in the cotton and dairy industries. The committee members pointed out that it’s time to look beyond the farm safety net for deficit reduction and budget savings. Farmers have already shouldered their share of that burden, according to farm leaders at the hearing. Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall told lawmakers long-term projections show farm income drops to $70 billion dollars a year over the next decade. Farmers Union President Roger Johnson noted that overall Title 1 programs are working, but he says there are some problems with the Ag Risk Coverage (ARC) Program that most farmers signed up for. Johnson says there are challenges regarding the cotton STAX program as well as dairy support too.
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