A divided government naturally results in conflict. California Congressman Jimmy Panetta was part of the field hearing on agricultural trade in Minnesota. Panetta said the differences between Democrats and Republicans makes headlines, but bipartisanship still exists in farm policy, especially with the farm bill. “You’re going to hear some fights over SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, coming up. I get that, but the fact is the majority of that farm bill is going to be bipartisan.” Panetta encouraged farmers to continue to tell agriculture’s story.

