Sen. Stabenow introduces bipartisan bill to help farmers when faced with bad weather Mark Wilson/Getty Images Farmer Mark Catterton drives a John Deere Harvester while harvesting soybeans during his fall harvest on October 19, 2018 in Owings, Maryland. By: FOX 17 and last updated 2021-04-29 16:25:10-04 WASHINGTON â Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), along with Sen. John Thune (R-SD), has put forth a new bipartisan bill that seeks to help farmers struggling as a result of bad weather. The Cover Crop Flexibility Act of 2021 will ensure that farmers will not incur crop insurance penalties if bad weather hinders them from planting crops in a given season, according to Stabenowâs office.