Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, a former high-ranking Republican member of the U.S. House, is calling on Congress to approve a farm bill that has been delayed for months. “Despite the critical importance of agriculture to our society and the industry’s contributions to our economy, Congress has failed to support the industry that provides our nation’s food supply,” Putnam, wrote in an opinion piece that appeared in The Hill on Monday. “Because of Congressional inertia on the farm bill, the abundance, safety and affordability of our nation’s food supply is at serious risk.” The farm bill, which provides price supports for farms and food basics for the poor, has become tied up in an ideological battle over the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps. Putnam’s letter doesn’t get into the SNAP issue. However, Putnam writes that delaying the bill will impact decisions on what foods are produced and the quality and quantity of food that reaches store shelves. “Two million American farms work day in and day out, all year long to produce the food and fiber we have grown to depend on. They work to ensure there is a variety of fresh, wholesome products in grocery stores, at restaurants and on dining tables,” Putnam wrote. “Furthermore, the farm bill supports disaster assistance programs, safeguards public health and protects our natural resources.”