"Stabenow Releases Senate Farm Bill Draft"

"Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) on Thursday released her draft 2013 farm bill."



"The bill saves $23 billion, by the committee's unofficial estimate, over the next 10 years by replacing the existing farm safety net with new crop insurance and price-based supports and by restricting some eligibility for food stamps.

Next Tuesday, the committee will mark up the measure, which governs farm subsidies and food stamps as well as rural energy, trade, conservation and development programs for five years. The full Senate is expected to take up the bill this month.

“The current Farm Bill expires Sept 30.  A new Farm Bill must be passed this year to provide farmers the certainty they need to keep driving our economic recovery. Sixteen million jobs hang in the balance,” the committee says its press release."

Erik Wasson reports for The Hill's On the Money blog May 9, 2013.

SEE ALSO:

"576-Page House Farm Bill Cuts Deeper Than Last Year" (Greenwire)

"Gillibrand Optimistic on Farm Bill Authorization" (Gannett)

"Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013" (Senate Agriculture Committee)

"This Week: House, Senate Plant Seeds for Farm Bill Deal" (The Hill)

"Congress Poised to Move on Farm Bill" (National Journal)

"House GOP Rolls Out New Farm Bill" (Politico)

"U.S. Sen. Al Franken Hopes for Farm Bill Legislation" (Grand Forks Herald)

"Senate Democrats Embrace Farm Bill in Battle To Retain Their Majority" (The Hill)

"Watershed Health, Logging Provisions Included in Senate Farm Bill" (E&E Daily)

"Crop Insurance Expands, Costs Grow in Latest U.S. Farm Bills" (Reuters)

Source: The Hill, 05/13/2013