Congressman Collin Peterson says work on the farm bill to start early

Congressman Collin Peterson told a crowd of more than 40 farmers that he'll start working on the next farm bill earlier than usual. He says sugar beet farmers look to be in the safest spot, but farmers who grow a variety of crops say they hope the new bill can look like the current one.

"It's good for everyone in rural America; it's kind of a rural economic development program it keeps people on the farms."

Peterson says there is two main reasons to start early. First because he wants another bi-partisan bill and says its long task to get everyone on the same page. Second he thinks the mother of all reconciliations is inevitable, putting the farm bill on the table for cuts.

"I'm for looking ahead to what we can do in the next farm bill, but I don't think we're for opening up the farm bill right now."

"It was passed for a five year farm program; we want to let it run its course."

Sugar beet farmers say opening the current farm bill is scary, but say they have no reason not to trust Congressman Peterson. He's always been open and involved with them. This is the eleventh straight year he's held open farm meetings in Ada."

"He's really proactive on this. This is a farm meeting, mostly farmers in there with farm issues on their mind, that's why he's the Chairman of the House Ag. He does a nice job."

"He's got more sugar beets in his district than any other district in the United States and he really understands sugar and knows what's good for us as sugar producers."

Farmers say a lot of outside people or company's try to sway the bill for their favor, but it feels good to express their concerns first hand with a person in charge.

Tags: minnesota legislature, todd kurtz, minnesota, ada, agriculture