Republican lawmakers are warning additional farm assistance may not reach producers until next spring. Lawmakers are discussing roughly 11 billion dollars in direct assistance that could be attached to a defense spending package. The proposal reportedly includes about 10 billion dollars in economic aid and another 1.1 billion for winter freeze losses.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman says he continues working with the White House and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to find a legislative vehicle for additional assistance. Farm groups say producers continue facing tight margins, high diesel costs and trade-related disruptions. But the growing level of government support is also drawing scrutiny from some economists, who question whether repeated emergency payments are becoming a more permanent part of farm income rather than temporary assistance.

By: NATHAN STUEDLERepublican lawmakers are warning additional farm assistance may not reach producers until next spring. Lawmakers are discussing roughly 11 billion dollars in direct assistance that could be attached to a defense spending package. The proposal reportedly includes about 10 billion dollars in economic aid and another 1.1 billion for winter freeze losses.Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman says he continues working with the White House and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to find a legislative vehicle for additional assistance. Farm groups say producers continue facing tight margins, high diesel costs and trade-related disruptions. But the growing level of government support is also drawing scrutiny from some economists, who question whether repeated emergency payments are becoming a more permanent part of farm income rather than temporary assistance.

More farm aid may not arrive until after midterms