Farmers worry Congress is stalling bill that would extend aid

Farmers are worried the House of Representatives is stalling on passing a farm bill they say will hurt families across the country if not extended.

The bill would revive several expired disaster assistance programs.

It would also extend the five-year Farm and Food Act that is set to expire at the end of September for an extra year.

The legislation would still have to be considered by the Senate before Congress leaves at the end of the week for a five-week recess.

Rick Miller, with the Kansas State University Extension office, had to walk a long way through a burnt Olathe corn field before he could find a healthy ear of corn.

"You know that might not be bad if it were full-size," Miller said, peeling back the husk. "But it's so, so little."

The sun has burned away crops in the worst drought in half a century for the nation's farmers.

That's why farmers say they need the farm bill extended - without it, they'll be left without enough crop insurance to survive.

"There is at least a minimum level of protection," Miller explained. "We could stay in business and do it next year."

The drought has brought left farmers worrying about the future beyond the 2012 harvest.

It's one of the reasons Miller said he'll stick to consulting.

"I don't have the guts to be a farmer," he said.