President Trump has signed the sweeping 800-billion-dollar-plus farm bill into law. Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation President Kevin Paap says that’s good news. Paap says “it gives a safety net to those in agriculture going through financial and emotional challenges at this time with the low prices, it gives the investment in our natural resources through conservation, it expands trade, just a lot of good things that will be good for all of Minnesota.” The measure provides billions of dollars in agricultural subsidies. The bill also legalizes production of hemp and Paap says “it’s always good to have more opportunities in agriculture, and certainly we in Minnesota, like many states, look at industrial hemp as a maybe a possibility, it won’t be for everyone, it may be a niche market, but it is another option.”Hemp will be officially classified as an agricultural commodity and will no longer be on the list of federal controlled substances. President Trump calls the bill a great victory for America’s farmers. In a statement, Senator Amy Klobuchar says: “The Farm Bill gives our farmers and ranchers the certainty and support they need to succeed. This bipartisan legislation includes many of the priorities I fought for like a strong safety net for farmers, important conservation provisions, and support for dairy farmers,” Klobuchar said. “Now that the Farm Bill has been signed into law, we have let rural America know that in a time of trade disruptions and drastic weather events, we stand with our farmers and ranchers.” And House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson released the following statement: “I am happy to see President Trump sign the farm bill into law today, especially considering the challenges our farmers, ranchers and rural communities face. The law contains programs that will help provide much-needed certainty to producers. The law now provides expanded, affordable risk management options for dairy farmers, as well as permanent, mandatory funding for priorities like the Local Food & Farmers Market Promotion Program, Value-Added Producer Grants, the BFRDP Program, Organic Research, and the Section 2501 Outreach Program. I look forward to working with USDA in the coming Congress to ensure these programs are implemented as quickly as possible and to their full effectiveness.”