The current farm bill expires in September of this year and Congress is working on a new one. Congressman Ron Kind, a Democrat from La Crosse, says this new farm bill (FARM21) is better suited for the 21st century. He says crop prices are high, and he doesn't want any artificial subsidies. Kind figures taxpayers would save about $20 billion in subsidies over the next five years by implementing these programs – and $55-billion over 10 years.
Kind says, under the bill, farmers would help provide their own safety nets called "risk management accounts," like IRAs for farmers. He says the new farm bill would also help us to move away from our dependence on foreign oil, be good stewards of our land, provide for the needy and reduce the federal deficit. Kind expects the farm bill to come up on the House floor sometime before the August recess.
AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report (1:28 MP3)
