Senator Lincoln Says "Production Agriculture Has Already Paid"

Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) agrees that the United States is in economic turmoil, but says when the President asks for all sectors to help that "production agriculture has already paid that price - and then some". Lincoln, a member of the Senate Ag Committee, told All Ag, All Day that the 18 months of negotiations leading up to the signing of the 2008 Farm Bill led to deep cuts in farm programs and that there's no more room to cut; adding that the Farm Bill is a contract with America's producers.

In addition, Senator Lincoln called out Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack for "inappropriate comments pitting hard working farmers and farm families against feeding hungry children". Vilsack said this week that U.S. lawmakers will need to choose between supporting "rich farmers" or feeding more hungry children. Lincoln says "no one is choosing one over the other, we can do both and we will do both". She added that "we sure can't feed the hungry if we put our farmers out of business."

The entire interview will be available after 2:00pm on Friday 3/6/09. Scroll down to GUEST INTERVIEWS to listen.