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Congress May Extend Current Farm Bill By 30 Days
USAgNet - 09/19/2007

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin says Congress will seek a one-month extension of the 2002 farm bill, which expires on September 30. The Iowa Democrat also notes that there likely will be additional short-term extensions reaching into December if lawmakers fail to approve a new federal farm policy.

Meanwhile his plans for holding a committee "mark-up" to consider amendments appears to be slipping from next week until the week of October 1. Harkin told reporters the committee would consider the bill prior to the Senate's Columbus Day recess the week of October 8, reports Feedstuffs Newspaper.

"Mark-up dates "hopefully would be set very soon," he told reporters on a press call.

While Harkin said he plans to complete a farm bill during this session of Congress, but he didn't rule out the possibility there could be an extension of the 2002 bill or that the Senate could simply introduce the House bill and offer amendments to it during floor debate.