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As I've long said, the farm bill is in need of major reform. At first chance, I voted to remove direct payments. Both the House and the Senate passed bills that end direct payments, and as we move forward, I hope we can work out the rest of the issues to implement the necessary reforms.

The farm subsidy program is something that was put into place over 60 years ago, and it was put into place to do one thing, and it's turned into something else.

Programs that pay farmers not to farm often devastate rural areas. The reductions hurt everyone from fertilizer companies to tractor salesmen.

If you say no to cruel factory farm practices, only then will the government say yes to change.

In general, we run the farm like a business instead of a welfare recipient, and we adhere to historically-validated patterns.

Yes, agriculture subsidies are far too generous. They need to be reined in because they cater to special interests while distorting free market competition. Yes, the farm laws are an anachronistic mess.

I think the Democratic Party realizes, having lost two presidential elections, we need to do a better job of creating a farm team.

While expanding market access for American industry, financial markets and farmers is critical, I believe it needs to be done responsibly, accounting for the treatment and protection of workers and the environment.

We need to make sure the Department of Agriculture is promoting farmers and ranchers.

I'm not saying we don't need health care reform. We do need health care reform.