Strain Wants to See Farm Bill Wrapped Up as Quickly as Possible

By Don Molino, The Voice of Louisiana Agriculture Radio Network

Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Dr. Mike Strain says February 14th is the date set as the goal for debate to begin in the House Agriculture Committee on the new farm bill.  

However, Committee Chairman Texas Congressman Mike Conoway says he's not quite sure it will happen by Valentine's Day but it is being considered.

According to Strain, it's very important to get the farm bill moving through Congress and hopefully wrapped up by the Easter recess in late March.  But the legislation really needs to be finalized by the mid-term elections this fall.

Commissioner Strain also reports Governor John Bel Edwards' executive budget will be released next week and will contain more than one billion dollars in cuts for state agencies, including the Department of Agriculture and Forestry.  Strain says he'll be watching that "very, very closely."