WASHINGTON — The US Senate on June 7 voted 90-8 in favor of proceeding to consider the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 (the farm bill).

"This bill represents commonsense and responsible reforms that will save taxpayers tens of billions of dollars while strengthening key initiatives that will allow our economy to continue growing and creating jobs,” said Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan. Stabenow also is chairwoman of the US Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.

"This bill has garnered widespread praise from hundreds of farm, food and conservation organizations for its commonsense reforms, deficit reduction and investments in our economic future," she said. "The 2008 farm bill is set to expire at the end of September — we must pass this commonsense bill immediately to give farmers the certainty they need to continue growing the economy. Sixteen million American jobs rely on agriculture. The time for reform is now.”