Overcoming the first of many major roadblocks, the House Ag Committee approved a sweeping farm bill late Wednesday with broad bi-partisan support. The new legislation cuts about 2.5 billion dollars a year from the current program with the food stamp program and direct payments accounting for most of the cuts. Crop insurance plans were adjusted slightly to compensate for the direct payments with new revenue and price-based supports. Read more about the bill's status at The Hill Blog or at NPR.
