The new Congress is at work and debate on the 2007 farm bill is poised to kick into high Gear. Congress has already hosted U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Johanns to hear the Administration’s recommendations for the new farm bill. Congress likely will convene several hearings to receive testimony and recommendations in the next few month .

This forum provides essential information on the setting in which the legislation will be crafted, the rationale for having farm bills and explore three directions the new farm bill could take.

The major points discussed in this meeting were: What are the driving factors in the current debate? What are the major policy alternatives being considered and how would those alternatives affect producers, landowners, and other agricultural interests?