Arizona Farm Bureau Federation Wishes A Farm Bill Would Pass

By Dennis Lambert
Published: Thursday, November 28, 2013 - 3:10pm
Updated: Thursday, November 28, 2013 - 3:16pm
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Congress has gone home for the holidays without passing a Farm Bill. The Arizona Farm Bureau Federation is concerned about the failure of Congress to pass a farm bill. Spokesman Kevin Rogers said that could mean a return to the Premiere Farm Bill, legislation of the late 1930’s and early ‘40s, something he said we cannot afford.

“If they have to go back to the old original language and start in with that old dairy program we would see some spikes in the price of milk, there’d be some market shifts and some demand changes and eventually, if they don’t get it done, you could see some changes at the grocery store," said Rogers. "It was pretty Draconian. It was very supply-side management and not, not the kind of bill we need today in 2013 and 2014."

Some worry the lack of a farm bill could mean $7.08-dollar a gallon milk to ring in the New Year. Rogers is confident that is a long shot, given the fact both the House and Senate have passed their own versions of the bill and staffers are working to smooth out the differences. He is still confident there will be no price catastrophes, and a reasonable farm bill can be negotiated and passed early next year.