AFBF American Farm Bureau Federation : USDA Principles a Great Start for Farm Bill

Clements: With the release of USDA's farm bill principles, agriculture has a path forward regarding what to expect in the next farm bill. While USDA cannot write policy, AFBF executive director of public policy Dale Moore says that the action by Secretary Perdue is welcome news.

Moore: This was a signal, not only to all of us in agriculture, but also to our leaders up on the hill, I'm ready to roll my shirt sleeves up and go to work with you all to get this farm bill done and get it done in a timely fashion. And, by the way, here's some basic outcomes that I'm going to be looking for as we get this farm bill done.

Clements: Moore says the principles outlined by Secretary Perdue mirror the farm bill priorities of AFBF.

Moore: I would say Farm Bureau's pretty much in the same position. We have our principles, we've made our recommendations, but the key thing is, like the Secretary indicated, we're ready to work with Congress on putting a farm bill together for our farmers and ranchers and rural communities.

Clements: Moore says this action by Perdue is a great start for discussion on the 2018 farm bill.

Moore: I think it's more than a simple formality. I think it is straight forward declaration from the Secretary that we need to get this farm bill done. That's what Congress wants to hear, that tells them that when we get started, we're not going to have to rustle with Secretary Perdue because he is going to be working with us hand and glove to get this farm bill done.

Clements: Micheal Clements, Washington.