Senator Johanns expects any new farm legislation to be based on the old legislation tha failed to make it through Congress. Brent Martin has the story. . .
Brent Martin; soc

The "fiscal cliff" deal extended the current 2008 Farm Bill for another eight months.
Senator Johanns says that doesn't mean all the work that went into getting a Farm Bill through the Senate last session will be wasted in the new session. Johanns foresees that legislation as being the foundation when talks resume. . .
Sen. Mike Johanns; "get it done"
The Senate version saved as much as 25 Billion dollars. Though the House Agriculture Committee approved a version, the full House never took up the measure.

Senator Johanns says that while work begins anew on agricultural policy, he believes the new Congress will review the work done in the last session in fashioning a new Farm Bill.
The Senate approved a bill with rounghly 25 Billion dollar in savings. While the House Agriculture Committee approved a measure, the full House never took it up.
Johanns expects anything that leaves the Senate this year to look a lot like the legislation that left last session. . .
Johanns; "$25 billion range"
Johanns says it will be up to the House to actually take up and debate a measure.
The fiscal cliff compromise extended current agriculture policy for another eight months.

Senator Johanns hopes any agricultural legislation considered by the new Congress will look a lot like the legislation considered by the Senate last year.
The Senate approved a Farm Bill that was projected to save roughly 25(B)Billion dollars. The House never took up the issue, though the House Agriculture Committee approved a measure.
Johanns wants Congress to fashion anything new on the bill that passed the Senate. . .
Johanns; "for going forward"
Johanns says the House must act on its own measure so the two chambers can negotiate a compromise.
The fiscal cliff compromise included a provision to extend the current Farm Bill another eight months.

Senator Johanns says Congress had to extend the current Farm Bill or risk reverting back to agriculture legislation approved in 1949.
Johanns says a provision in federal law calls for national ag policy to revert to the old version if the Farm Bill is allowed to lapse. Johanns, a former Agriculture Secretary, says the USDA would have had a hard time dealing with that. . .
Johanns; "not thrilled about it"
Johanns expects the Senate to pattern any new legislation on the legislation that passed the Senate last year. Though the House Agriculture Committee approved a measure, it never made it to the full House for debate.

 
(courtesy of Nebraska Radio Network)