While Sunday’s expiration of the 2008 Farm Bill won’t have an immediate impact on most farm programs – farm groups have been calling for action on a new bill as soon as Congress returns to Washington following the November election. National Council of Farmer Cooperatives President and CEO Chuck Conner weighed in Friday – stating that America’s farmers, ranchers and growers need the certainty that comes from knowing the rules of the game as they begin to make planting decisions for the 2013 crop year this winter. But according to the former Acting Ag Secretary – the agricultural community needs to come together to develop a framework for farm programs that meets the needs of all producers – regardless of the region of the country they farm in or the commodity they grow in order for Congress to take action. Conner urged farm groups to be ready when Congress comes back to town – hinting they should work out farm policy compromises in advance. If Congress is ready and willing to act in the lame duck to pass a new, five-year farm bill – Conner said – then farm groups need to have at the ready an equitable plan that ensures Americans can continue to have access to a safe, affordable, abundant and sustainable supply of food and fiber.