The new five-year federal farm bill, passed by the House on Wednesday, won’t do anything about California’s drought. But it may help relieve some of the insecurity and uncertainty facing the state’s farmers. The long-delayed, nearly $100 billion-per-year bill ends direct payments to farmers in favor of expanded crop insurance. The compromise legislation also cuts food stamps for millions of Americans, though not as deeply as some Republicans had hoped. As the bill makes its way to the Senate, we’ll talk about what it would mean for California farmers, consumers and the environment.
- More: House Passes Compromise Farm Bill (NPR)
- More: New Farm Bill Includes Cut in Food Stamps
- More: Environmental Working Group – Website mentioned by the guest during the show – recommends it as resource, doesn’t endorse politics