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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring says the newly passed 2014 Farm Bill is long overdue, but contains major provisions to protect farmers and keep agriculture in the forefront of America’s trade picture.

He says, “the five-year bill includes a strong crop insurance and other risk management programs, a new, retroactive livestock disaster program, and money for programs that enhance our agricultural trade overseas, such as the Foreign Market Development program and Market Assistance Program,” Goehring added, “I am especially pleased that the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program received additional funding, and that programs to control plant pests and diseases have been emphasized.”

Goehring said North Dakota’s congressional delegation, Senator’s John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp and U.S. Representative Kevin Cramer deserve credit for many of the positive aspects of the legislation.