Just in from Washington

Lugar Sees Farm Program Cuts in New Congress

Washington--Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) believes the expected power shift in Congress after today's election will have a major impact on U.S. farm policy. “We're likely to have curtailment of farm subsidies and other income support programs,” Lugar said.

Lugar said 70 percent of the Agriculture Department’s budget goes to food and nutrition programs and those programs will not be touched. He expects the cuts will come from farm programs.

Because of this, Lugar believes writing the 2012 farm bill will be very contentious. “The South will want to protect the subsidy programs for cotton, rice and sugar. My guess is that at the end of the day the subsidies will be curtailed,” Lugar said.

Hoosier Ag Today article