WASHINGTON, D.C. — Just about once every five years, Congress has to develop the legal framework for agricultural and food policy, known as the “Farm Bill.”
In each Farm Bill, the United States addresses agricultural and food policy through a variety of programs. For example, SNAP and nutrition assistance, crop insurance, commodity support, conservation and much more.
The current Farm Bill was signed in 2018 and extended through the current fiscal year, but the clock is ticking for a new one.
Since the 1930s, Congress has enacted 18 farm bills. The bills have traditionally focused on farm commodity programs support for things like corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton and dairy. But in 1973, they became much more expansive to include funding for nutrition, research, rural development and much more.
“Well, the Farm Bill is incredibly important,” said Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R- PA). “It’s about food security, national security. It’s about jobs, economic impact, actually generating tax revenue at all levels of government through farm business and agribusinesses,” he added.
Thompson serves as Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture and has been an active member of the committee for over a decade.
He says the Farm Bill provides a special opportunity for everyone to get involved.
“I brought Republicans to the table, Democrats on the table and the people of rural America and American agriculture to the table,” said Rep. Thompson.
“It’s essential that it be bipartisan to get it done,” said Senator Debbie Stabenow (D- MI).
This is the third Farm Bill Stabenow has led in her position as Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.
“This affects, frankly, all of the UP, all of Michigan,” said Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D- MI). “Because rural development which is funded through the Farm Bill affects loans and grants, high-speed internet, telemedicine, what we’re doing through rural hospitals, a whole range of jobs.”
In addition to food security and rural development, Stabenow is also focused on conservation provisions in this Farm Bill.
“Which go hand in hand with what I’m doing on the Great Lakes. The conservation programs support our farmers to be managing land and water in the right way so that we are dealing with water quality and carbon pollution issues that are so critical,” said Stabenow.
Thompson says the Farm Bill is on a good path and is largely already written. He expects the committee to start reviewing final details and costs after Easter.
The Committee invites ideas and proposals for the 2023 Farm Bill, as well as feedback about the 2018 Farm Bill. Submissions are welcomed via this form or emailing: FarmBill2023@ag.senate.gov.
