Senate Ag Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow says Congress must complete a Farm Bill next year before the current Farm Bill expires in order to provide certainty for farmers and small businesses. The ag Committee Chair promised – we will resume holding hearings when Congress returns in January. The goal is to complete an initial product in the spring to provide plenty of time for Congress to complete its work. She believes 12 public meetings and the bipartisan framework developed by the House and Senate Agriculture Committees this year will serve as a strong foundation moving forward.

Stabenow said she will continue focusing on principles, not programs, as the Committee continues its work with Members on both sides of the aisle to develop a sound Farm Bill proposal. She said her focus is continuing to meet and discuss with farmers and other agriculture stakeholders what’s working and what isn’t to develop policies that strengthens American agriculture and ensures an abundant and safe food supply while continuing to offer proposals to increase accountability and reduce the deficit.