Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow has outlined her plan to strengthen the safety net in the new farm bill. In the letter to her committee, Stabenow said farm programs must be targeted to active farmers and adjusted to provide more flexibility. Stabenow cited the cotton program that offers a choice between the traditional base acre programs and an area-based crop insurance policy. Stabenow said similar options should be available to all commodities in the next farm bill. To get the legislation wrapped up this spring, the Michigan senator said it is time “to get serious.”
