House Agriculture Committee ranking member Collin Peterson, D-Minn., called the budget proposed by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., “political messaging,” and said it might be better to extend the farm bill than try to write a new one.

“For the third time, the House majority has put forward a political messaging document rather than a realistic budget that makes the balanced, tough choices we need to get our country back on solid financial footing,” Peterson said. “The American people are tired of political games. It’s time to get serious.”

“The House Agriculture Committee has repeatedly shown it is possible to work together to find budget savings in a bipartisan fashion by making balanced cuts across farm bill programs,” Peterson continued.

“It wasn’t an easy process but we did it because that’s our job. If the House Republicans do take the Ryan budget numbers seriously, I don’t see how they can be serious about passing long-term farm policy this year. If these are the budget priorities for the House Majority, agriculture might best be served by again extending the current farm bill.”

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., who praised Ryan for producing a budget, said the committee last year “developed a reform-minded, fiscally responsible farm bill that contributed to deficit reduction and we will continue on that same course this year.”

“We will consider the suggestions contained in Chairman Ryan’s budget, as is customary for the Agriculture Committee to consider a variety of viewpoints when crafting comprehensive legislation,” Lucas said.