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Bacon sees possible window for action on farm finances

A member of House Ag Committee says there could be small window for lawmakers to address the financial challenges facing farmers and ranchers.

Don Bacon, a Republican from Nebraska, says the chamber is in recess until after the midterm election, but, “The speaker has put us on call for any kind of financial or budgetary votes. There would be an appetite to comeback for a day.”

On a recent call with reporters, he told Brownfield that could include several issues like diesel prices, supplemental aid and the farm bill. “Whatever we get called back for, it would have to be a pretty well thought out policy. You don’t want to do a policy that has second and third order negative effects as well.”

Bacon says he’s also shared his concerns with the President. “I laid out to him that the ag economy is suffering. We have low commodity prices and high input prices. I thought tariffs weren’t going to be popular. They weren’t going to work in the Midwest. I told him that. We disagreed. I’ve been very candid with him.”

He says he supports the President Trump’s position the Middle East and is optimistic that additional oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz could eventually ease diesel prices.