Don Nickles: “I first want to compliment the managers of the farm bill for their hard work in crafting legislation which reforms our…”

“I first want to compliment the managers of the farm bill for their hard work in crafting legislation which reforms our Nation's agriculture policies. No longer will the Government tell farmers which crops to plant and no longer will the Government tell farmers to leave productive land idle in exchange for a Federal handout. I believe giving more flexibility to farmers is a step in the right direction and urge my colleagues to support the freedom-to-farm legislation. I thank the chairman and ranking member for clarifying the sponsors' intent with respect to the haying and grazing provision of the substitute amendment. This technical change allows farmers to continue the haying and grazing flexibility they have under current law and I am pleased the bill's sponsors agree this traditional freedom should continue under the reform proposal. Once again, I thank the managers for making this technical change and appreciate their leadership on farm policy.”