Latham offers preview of next farm bill

Latham offers preview of next farm bill

U.S. Rep. Tom Latham is expecting some big changes in federal agriculture policy as Congress gets started on the next farm bill.

The Republican from Alexander is predicting a ‘‘major emphasis'' on rural development, energy and conservation.

‘‘I think you're going to see some pretty dramatic changes in the focus of the policy this time,'' he said Saturday morning in Fort Dodge.

Latham spoke during the Eggs and Issues forum at Iowa Central Community College. The event was sponsored by the Fort Dodge Area Chamber of Commerce.

He said he believes the next farm bill will provide more financing tools to support the development of renewable energy such as ethanol and biodiesel.

The commodity payment system, he said, will be changed to send more of the money to farmers who truly need it because they had a bad crop year.

At the same time, the payment system will also be expanded to address more crops, such as switchgrass, he added. That system now is aimed at supporting corn, soybeans and wheat.

‘‘I think we've got to focus in on what the market will be in the future rather than what it has been in the past,'' Latham said.

He advised that getting federal money for local projects via congressional designations called earmarks is ‘‘going to be much more difficult'' due to budget pressures.

Latham said he voted for the minimum wage increase approved by the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this month. That bill, now awaiting Senate action, would raise the wage to $7.25 per hour.

The minimum wage is now $5.15 per hour.

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