Farmers debate reforms in payment system

A couple of years ago, the federal government quietly pumped $12.4 million into the local five-county region. No press releases were issued, and no congressman delivered a speech.

Millions of dollars flow into the Mahoning and Shenango valleys that way every year.

The money doesn’t go for courthouses, bridges or roads. It goes to farmers.

“Many farms wouldn’t have survived the last 10 years if we hadn’t had it,” said Wayne Bacon of New Springfield, who farms nearly 2,000 acres.

The lifeline comes from the federal farm bill, which is a hot topic in Washington this year. The House has passed a version that would alter how farmers qualify for payments, and the Senate will begin its debate next month.

A lot is at stake in the political debate.

Nationally, the five-year House bill would provide $4.4 billion a year, though just 20 percent would go to farmers. Most of the money would fund nutrition programs, such as food stamps.

For more on this issue, see Sunday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com