Tom Harkin: “I describe our bill as having four legs, which makes it very sturdy. We have fixed payments, countercyclical payments…”

“I describe our bill as having four legs, which makes it very sturdy. We have fixed payments, countercyclical payments, marketing loans, and conservation payments, all of which will help support farming. Lastly, I want to talk a little bit about the conservation title. We have been able to accomplish a great deal on the conservation title. It is important in and of itself. Farmers and landowners desire to conserve soil, water, and other natural resources. Sound conservation is one of the best ways for agriculture to continue to build good will with the rest of America. Plus, it is also a way in which we can help promote better farm income. So we have funded programs like the Wetlands Reserve Program, the Farmland Protection Program, the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program. Those three programs, I might add, are all out of money right now. So every day we do not pass this farm bill and get it through, none of those programs will be funded.”