Farm Bill headed for final approval

Senator Tom Harkin says he’s “very, very happy” with the final version of the Farm Bill that’s been formally endorsed today by the panel of House and Senate members who were assembled to draft a compromise. Harkin says the bill reflects a spirit of bipartisan cooperation, and says it shows you can get the job done if you stick to it.Harkin, a democrat from Iowa, is chairman of the U-S Senate’s Ag Committee.Harkin says the hallmark of the bill is that the “Freedom to Farm” concept of phasing out federal farm subsidies is now dead, and there’s a safety net for farmers.The U-S House is expected to give final approval to the bill perhaps as early as tomorrow, then the Senate will follow. Harkin expects the President to sign the bill into law next week.