Asa Hutchinson: “I note many of the questions that arise in a farm bill debate--some of those posed by both Senator Warner and Senator…”

“I note many of the questions that arise in a farm bill debate--some of those posed by both Senator Warner and Senator Roberts--deal with the commodity title. Obviously, those are great concerns because all of us have our own constituencies. The Harkin substitute that we are seeking to amend includes many elements that farmers of Arkansas would support. It includes a yield update as well as a base acre update; it includes a 100-percent base acreage coverage versus the 85-percent base coverage included in the House bill and my amendment. These are, frankly, changes that would benefit many farmers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi. That is one of the reasons that I have supported the chairman's mark. However, this is what we must remember. If these changes mean we will not be able to get a farm bill this year, it is time for us to seek a different approach. While some of the funding levels for the various commodities may not be as high as we have in this substitute, the average gross receipts are rather attractive to many farmers in my State and other States as well.”