Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has introduced the Senate-passed version of the farm bill as a top priority bill for the 113th Congress. Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow applauded Reid for his support and commitment to enacting a new five-year farm bill. Stabenow notes the farm bill approved by the Senate last year with overwhelming bipartisan support saved more than 23-billion dollars in taxpayer money and reformed farm bill programs to be more cost-effective and market-oriented.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, in a recent speech, saying the new Farm Bill has to embrace a sensible immigration message:

“Agriculture has a stake in the immigration debate. Agriculture wants and needs immigration reform. Agriculture must have a steady and stable supply of labor. And agriculture relies on immigration for that steady supply. It’s a wonderful opportunity for us in rural America to embrace diversity and an immigration policy that makes sense.”