here is roger bernard. >> reporter: lincoln becomes the first woman to headup the senate agriculture committee, but that doesn't change the issues. that panel has still got to attack this year. climate change is one of those. panel has already held two hearings on the topic. lincoln's views may surprise some. in that she says passing a climate change bill by the senate this year could be a tall order given the heavy, heavy schedule that that chamber already has and frankly lincoln sees backed up picking up on capitol hill and that is that climate change finish line could be pushed back to 2010 and maybe even beyond that. now, the fact that lincoln hails from the south has created maybe uncertainty from growers from other reerjons. lincoln -- regions. lincoln says don't woan worry about that. she points out during the 2008 farm bill she worked with lawmakers from across the country to bridge the regional differences and expects to continue that pattern as she heads up the ag committee. for "u.s. farm report", i'm pro farmer's roger bernard. >> with harvest under way in many parts of t

roger bernard says even if that amendment is pulled off the table it shows how climate issues changesre critical to farm state lawmakers. >> well, the number and scope of the amendments that lawmakers offered up for the senate consideration of that interior and environment spending bill certainly reflect what they have been hearing a lot from their constituents on and that is renewable fuels and climate change. now, the environmental protection agency is one of the keys in both of those topics. and lawmakers certainly want to use the amendment process on the spending bill to make their points on exactly what issues they want epa to address or maybe, more importantly, not to address. so how do they go about getting an agency's attention like that? well, by basically controlling the purse strings. it is not that they are telling epa they cannot do this or that. the way they go about it is by saying you can't spend any money to do a certain thing. so that's how lawmakers use the appropriations process to effect how an administration handling a given program or project. for "u.s. farm rep