Local farmers ho-hum on effects of Farm Bill

Effects of the historic changes in the farm bill may not be felt for several years, and may never make much difference to many farmers along the

Northern Front Range.

The greatest changes to the Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform Act, passed by Congress April 5, involve separating government payments

to farmers from government controls on what and how much farmers plant.

For the next seven years, farmers who have contracted for crop price supports (in case of sharply falling crop prices) will receive declining payments

based on their past contracts.

With few exceptions, they will be free to plant any crops they…