The committee reported out a farm bill in April and that bill is expected to come up for debate in the Senate early this month, possibly this week.
"This is the seventh farm bill I've worked on," Conner told Agriculture.com recently. "We're thrilled to see action coming out of the Senate (Agriculture) Committee."
"Having said that, there are a lot of obstacles to be overcome here," Conner said during an interview in Des Moines, Iowa, where he and other NCFC leaders were promoting their group's participation in the International Year of Cooperatives.
One of the biggest, Conner said, is that the Senate farm bill still isn't viewed as treating all regions of the country equitably. At hearings before the House Agriculture Committee in May, farmers representing peanut and rice growers said they believe they'll benefit less than corn and soybean farmers from the Senate bill's revenue program.
Conner said that support from all regions of the country is vital to getting a farm bill passed in Congress.
"The Senate bill is still not quite there yet," Conner said.
Conner looks for a lot of amendments to be offered on the floor. In 1990, more than 110 amendments were made to that year's farm bill. Conner expects robust debate this time, too.
"I certainly think a week at a minimum," he said.
Some members of the Senate Agriculture Committee have told Agriculture.com that they expect amendments that might limit USDA subsidies for farmer premiums for crop insurance.
Conner said that in his discussions with farmer members of co-ops, he hears support for crop insurance as the most common interest farmers have in the farm bill now being debated.
"We would hate to see Congress go down a path where you discourage producers from managing their own risk," Conner said.
One group that does support making large operations pay more for their insurance is the Center for Rural Affairs, based in Lyons, Nebraska.
Under the Senate's farm bill, crop insurance subsidies are expected to cost the federal government $9 billion a year.
