Senate debates farm bill containing big reforms - KOTA Territory News

Senate debates farm bill containing big reforms

The Senate continues to debate a farm bill that would possibly make the biggest reforms in decades.

The proposed bill would save more than $23 billion over the previous bill.

It is built around a crop insurance program that would provide a safety net in case of a bad weather year or price collapse.

It also does away with direct payments to producers, without looking at prices, production, or yield.

U.S. Senator John Thune of South Dakota calls the bill fiscally responsible.

"It is important that we have a farm policy in place for our producers. They need certainty, they need to know what the rules are going to be, what the programs are. And obviously, with the current bill expiring September 30th of this year, farmers are starting to make a lot of decisions with a lot of uncertainty," said Thune.

Thune says the bill should be on the President's desk before the end of the current fiscal year.