A new Purdue University Web site covers hot topics that will be affected by the 2007 farm bill. "Our agricultural economics group felt it was useful to pull together as much information as possible to help inform the public, producers and agribusinesses as well as commodity groups, about the future farm bill," says Mike Boehlje, Purdue extension ag economist. "The Web site was designed to give viewers a general background about farm policies and alternative proposals."
The 2007 Farm Bill Issues and Analysis Web site was created to provide useful information for the debate and discussion of what the new farm bill should look like, says Boehlje. It's located at www.agecon.purdue.edu/farmbill/. The site contains an overview of USDA's farm bill proposals for conservation, dairy, energy and commodities. There also are links to the Economic Research Service's farm bill information and the Farm Service Agency. The current farm bill expires this year. The bill currently being debated will go into effect for the 2008 crop year. Proposals will continue to be developed and submitted by the House and Senate Ag Committees, according to Boehlje, and a finalized bill is expected to be submitted to the president by early fall. Purdue experts will continue adding to the Web site as new proposals are developed and the debate continues.