1. AGRICULTURE:
Senate panel OKs farm bill, adds $800M in energy funding
The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee approved a sweeping reform of agriculture policy today, voting 12-4 to send the farm bill to the Senate floor. The bill would restructure farm subsidies while strengthening crop insurance and creating a new revenue-insurance program. It would also consolidate 23 conservation programs into 13 and provide $800 million over five years to energy programs. Go to story #1