Illinois Farmers Worry They'll Be Left Behind In Federal Budget
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CBS) -- A so-called "super-committee" has been formed to tackle federal budget cuts, but some farmers worry agriculture won't get a fair seat at the table.
Agriculture accounts for less than 1 percent of the federal budget, which is why some are concerned the 2012 Farm Bill will be glossed over to focus on bigger ticket items such as defense and entitlement programs.
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U.S. Rep. Bobby Schilling (R-Colona) says agriculture will get the attention it deserves. "We've got to see how it plays out, and if it looks like it's turning the wrong way then we've got to do something about it," says Schilling. "I wanted to see someone on Ag and someone from the Department of Defense on there, and we did get one Ag person on."
The Farm Bill is crafted every five years or so to fund farming programs and initiatives and everything under the USDA's purview.
Schilling says it's possible discussions about the 2012 bill will be delayed until 2013.
