WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin said a newly minted farm bill would protect grain and cotton farmers and increase spending for fruit and vegetable producers.
The Iowa Democrat and chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee said the bill would create an optional crop-subsidy plan corn-growers want and would increase funding for conservation, bioenergy and nutrition programs, the Des Moines Register reported Wednesday.
The committee is expected to vote on the bill next week. The U.S. House of Representatives passed its version during the summer.
The crop subsidy program would allow farmers some safeguard against poor yields and falling commodity prices, Harkin said. Farmers also could fruits and vegetables, but would get a smaller payment from the government each year.
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