Agriculture is still our No. 1 industry in Iowa. And how policy is set really affects how much money we make in the state. He strongly opposes its guaranteed annual payments, which are not tied to farm prices. He also says the money often goes to people who are not actually producing crops. Harkin is set to play a major role in revamping the act because it expires at the end of this year and a new farm program must be developed by Congress.
Many analysts predict more modest changes.
There's still a Republican in the White House, and they point out that Harkin has already been working closely with the committee's current chairman, Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana. The Democrats' thin margin will require cooperation. Al Tank, an official of the National Pork Producers Council in Washington, said there could be significant differences. Harkin said he would not support attempts by House Republican leaders to split the next farm bill into sections, passing the segment related to commodities this year and then moving on to nutrition, conservation and food-safety programs next year. Harkin said the Senate will take up a traditional unified farm bill.