Ag Commissioner Voices Farm Bill Priorities - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Ag Commissioners across the country voice their priorities for the 2013 farm bill.

Doug Goehring recently returned from Washington D.C. where he with other state deputies and commissioners visited with members of Congress about the bill being drafted.

Goehring says continued funding for dairy, meat and poultry and plant inspection services is critical for maintaining a safe food supply.

He says other necessities include building a safety net for dairy producers, and investing in conservation programs.

He says the bill that wasn't passed before the end of the year, was a good bill and is fearful that the new bill will be written with fewer dollars.

(Doug Goehring / ND Ag Commissioner) "We are going to be subject to deeper cuts. Agriculture has already given up so much in regards to cuts. It's been somewhat disproportional. It appears as though it is going to continue that way we are just going to take deeper cuts and the only thing that's really left on the table anymore is risk management tools."

Goehring says Vermont, Wisconsin, and California are all making a big push for protection for dairy producers.

The current farm bill was extended and will expire at the end of September.