Kansas Senator Pat Roberts, chair of the Senate agriculture committee, says the level of federal subsidies for crop insurance will dominate this year's farm bill discussion.

At a farm convention in Kansas City, Roberts said a federal budget deal that included protections for dairy and cotton farmers against catastrophic losses could make passing a farm bill simpler.

Debate over the farm bill comes on the heels of some tough years for farmers. So the Kansan wants to make sure they're covered when weather or low prices strike. He wants to protect crop insurance subsidies from cuts.

"Now's not the right time to monkey around with crop insurance. As far as I'm concerned, we're not going to do that. We're just not going to do that," said Roberts.

Roberts also stated that he expected this year's farm bill to pass in spring.

This report originally comes from Harvest Public Media, in partnership with Kansas News Service.