You need information, especially when it comes to one of the most important pieces of legislation this Congress will consider: the Farm Bill. That’s why our friends at Farm Foundation, NFP and the National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy (NCFAP), have put together a series of essays by thought leaders in ag and rural America called Perspectives on the 2013 Farm Bill.

“Our intent is to enrich the public debate about the future of food and agricultural policy by providing ideas and perspectives from a diverse range of thought leaders,” according to Neil Conklin, President of Farm Foundation, NFP.

While Congress may finalize new farm bill legislation over the next few weeks, the debate will likely continue. “The role of the federal government in food, agriculture and rural communities will continue to be discussed and debated well into the future,” says Stan Johnson, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of NCFAP. “It is our goal to stimulate a continuing, dynamic conversation on the role and structure of food, agricultural and rural policies.”

And to give you more context, Farm Foundation has a 2013 Farm Bill Reading Room that gives stakeholders some varied viewpoints and options under discussion as Congress continues work on a successor to the 2008 farm bill. Articles are being put in three categories: reports on the politics shaping policies; organizational advocacy or viewpoints; and policy reference and analysis.