The new farm bill gets the green light from Congress -- much to the delight of local farmers.

Congressman Joe Donnelly was in Rolling Prairie Friday talking about the farm bill and its Farm Flex program.

The House and Senate passed it into law Thursday night, despite a veto by President Bush.

Under the new bill, Indiana received 9,000 acres for fruit and vegetable crops.

"It's a farm bill that has expanded the opportunities for Indiana farmers. We have additional acres for tomatoes, for cucumbers, for other products, without losing our base acreage,” explained Donnelly. “It's great for conservation."

The old 2002 farm bill significantly limited where fruit and vegetable farmers could plant, but the Farm Flex program lifts those restrictions.

Several Indiana farmers helped write the new legislation.