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Senate Ag Committee leader has farm bill roundtable in central MO

State agricultural groups have many questions for the ranking member of the Senate Ag Committee ahead of a farm bill roundtable discussion in central Missouri today.

A new farm bill draft has been in the works for several months and no details have been released to the public.

Missouri Corn’s Director of Public Policy Darrick Steen is attending the event and tells Brownfield he hopes to hear more about what’s included, including trade promotion, reference prices and if there’s money for updates.

“The budget side and funding side will always play a leading role in these decisions.”

The roundtable with U.S. Senators John Boozman from Arkansas and Eric Schmitt from Missouri is happening two months after the House Ag Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson had a roundtable at the Missouri State Fair. Steen says at this point in the discussion, there’s probably not much new to add to the farm bill, but there is a value in the meeting.

“Just to make sure no harmful amendments are considered and voted on the floor when this comes up for a debate.”

Steen says he’s not worried about a farm bill extension until the end of the year.