North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp says farm bill conferees are making progress. However, one challenge involves proposed changes for base acres. “North Dakota farmers lose about half a million acres, with a lot of extra money going to cotton. That’s been one of the big fights here,” says Heitkamp. “House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway obviously wants that prerogative as chairman, but we can’t let our Midwest farmers take the brunt of transferring that kind of money down to Texas.” According to Heitkamp, there is progress in discussion surrounding permanent easements. Listen to the interview.
