Before the holiday break, the Midwest Council on Agriculture was in Washington, D.C. for its annual meeting. The group also met with lawmakers and officials from USDA and EPA. Council President Perry Aasness said House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson is preparing to release a farm bill text next month. “If a farm bill’s going to get done, it would seem like it would have to be done in the first quarter before things get into the campaign season,” said Aasness. “(House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn) GT Thompson’s committed and in talking to some other members on the ag committee, there’s some pent-up demand to get something done.” The availability of ag labor is a priority for the Midwest Council on Agriculture. “What agriculture heard in the past few years from many on Capitol Hill was that we can’t deal with ag labor reform or some type of reform package until the border is secure, well, the border is secured and I think agriculture wants something done.” Listen to the full interview.
