At a meeting of farm advocates in Battle Creek, Michigan, Senator Debbie Stabenow addressed the anticipated fight over this year’s Farm Bill.

Stabenow, as the chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, is uniquely positioned to discuss the Farm Bill and other issues affecting American farmers.

The 2012 Farm Bill has long been a subject of heated debate and speculation. With many provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill set to expire at the end of this year, lawmakers have been maneuvering to pass a new bill.

Added to this tense situation is the recent struggle over deficit spending and the budget. In the wake of fights over the debt ceiling, lawmakers have been looking for nearly $2 trillion to eliminate from the federal budget. Given these recent austerity measures, finding money for farm programs has been increasingly difficult.

Stabenow discussed the recent failure of the Congressional supercommittee, which attempted to pass a renewed Farm Bill as part of its larger budget. Stabenow expressed disappointment about this failure and told crowds that the supercommittee’s failure will send the Farm Bill back to regular congressional channels, a move that could lead to severe budget reductions.

Stabenow remains optimistic about the eventual passage of the bill. “We are steadily moving forward even in a climate of deficit reduction,” Stabenow stated.

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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer