By Consuelo McAboy
The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee passed a new set of farm bills that has Michigan organizations split on the effects of the legislation.
The proposed bills make major reforms to agricultural policy. It eliminates direct payments and consolidates programs.
Chuck Hassebrook is with the Center for Rural Affairs. He said the new legislation still needs work.
"The most important change that's needed in the farm bill now is to include funding for the rural development programs, create jobs and opportunities in rural Michigan and across rural America. This would be the first farm bill and as it's written now, it will be the first farm bill in a generation to include no funding for rural development."
On the other hand, Ryan Findlay with the Farm Bureau supports the new legislation...
"There's never gonna be a perfect bill and I think that people will always say, 'hey we would like to add this or we would like to change that.' By and large, the Farm Bill that Senator Stabenow passed, is a good piece of legislation."
Findlay said the legislation still has a long way to go. The bills are currently on the Senate Floor. He said he believes the Senate will pass the measure and send it to the House for final action.