The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is optimistic that a farm bill will be completed by March 15. House and Senate lawmakers are currently focusing on a spending level of approximately $9 billion above the budget baseline over a period of 10 years. A final spending agreement might be reached this week.

“Our growers need a farm bill passed before March 15 so that they can make planting decisions,” says NCGA President Ron Litterer. “It is imperative that Congress pass a farm bill with a strong revenue counter-cyclical program that reflects the current realities and risks in today’s marketplace. We do not want to revert to the permanent rules from 1938 and 1949.”

Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer delivered the following remarks at the 2008 Agricultural Outlook Forum recently: “At the top of the list is working with Congress to deliver a farm bill that the president of the U.S. can proudly sign. That means a bill that preserves a strong safety net for producers, and achieves real reforms in farm policy and it does it without imposing new taxes on the American citizens. We're making progress toward that goal, and I'm increasingly optimistic that we can see a farm bill that conforms to the administration principles and meets the needs of Congress and the people of the U.S., this year.”    read more from ncga..