Local farmers are one step closer to getting government-backed support once again, but its approval is kind of a mixed bag. The House of Representatives passed what’s known as “the Farm Bill” this week, and now it’s headed to the Senate for approval. The House approved government-backed insurance programs for crop loss, and milk income loss that act as “safety nets” for local farmers. Smaller dairy farmers would have a Dairy Margin Insurance Program that protects them from income loss when the price of milk drops. Republicans are in support of the bill because it comes with $8 billion in savings over 10 years, but democrats are upset because those cuts come from cuts to food stamps. It cuts the entire Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) about one percent. The Senate is likely to pick up the farm bill sometime next week, and if passed there, would need Presidential approval. The bill would be in effect for the next five years.
