Colorado Benefits from new Farm Bill

Colorado Benefits from new Farm Bill

Maura Bennett
Maura Bennett

The House and Senate have reached an agreement on the massive 2018 Farm Bill, that will fund key farm safety net programs for the next five years.

Senator Michael Bennet said the Senate version which is very close to the bipartisan bill will legalize hemp, conserve land and water, and combat climate change.

As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Bennet last summer, spoke on the Senate floor about the importance of hemp for the state.

"For the first time in 80 years, this bill legalizes hemp. We forget but hemp was widely grown throughout the United States in the 1800s. Americans used hemp in fabric , wine and paper."

Bennet said the bill would also improve drought data crop insurance, and conservation.

Senator Cory Gardner also supports the bill which is expected to pass by the end of the week.

The compromise bill doesn't make any changes to existing work requirements for SNAP recipients, nor does it eliminate states' ability to provide waivers or change eligibility rules. It does increase funding for employment and job training programs from $90 million to nearly $104 million per year.

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