Rep. Kelly Armstrong assured members of the Northern Pulse Growers Association in Minot on Tuesday that he was optimistic that a deal in Congress was possible before the deadline in September. The Agriculture Appropriation Bill is updated every five years, and Armstrong stated the politics in D.C. has changed.

“The hot button issues that exist now are very different from the hot button issues of five years ago. I think everybody recognizes that we are capable of dynamic change. I think in a lot of ways the new farm bill will look a lot like the old farm bill,” Armstrong said. “We will wait until we get the commodity programs right. There’s political motivation on both sides to deal with these issues.”

Armstrong indicated that though the deadline was in September, a decision really needs to be reached by June.

“We are always working with Republicans and Democrats and talking with Sen. (John) Hoeven and Sen. (Kevin) Cramer on the other side to make sure we are fighting for the things that we can get in there, but also that existing programs don’t expire. It’s not perfect. Nobody wanted an extension. We’ve been through these fights, and we’re not going to let these safety nets go away,” Armstrong said.