By Brendan Scanland
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Farmers, ranchers and others within the agriculture industry are growing anxious about the lack of a new Farm Bill.
Every five years, Congress is tasked with reauthorizing the large package of legislation. Lawmakers have already missed an extended deadline earlier this fall.
The most recent 2018 Farm Bill provided a total of $428 billion over its five-year lifespan for critical programs ranging from crop insurance to food support for low-income families.
Reauthorizing the large package of legislation can be a long and tricky process. The 2018 version was due for reauthorization in 2023, but lawmakers extended the deadline to September of this year. That deadline has come and gone.
The House Agriculture Committee released its version of the Farm Bill, the “Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024” in May. The bill faced criticism from Democrats over cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
On Nov. 18, Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D- MI), Chair of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, formally introduced the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act, the Senate’s version of the Farm Bill. The bill builds on the proposal Chairwoman Stabenow released in May.
“The foundation of every successful Farm Bill is built on holding together the broad, bipartisan Farm Bill coalition. This is a strong bill that invests in all of agriculture, helps families put food on the table, supports rural prosperity, and holds that coalition together,” said Stabenow.
However, neither the House, nor Senate versions have received a floor vote. Finding compromise and passing a massive spending bill can be difficult during an election year. Chances of the House and Senate agreeing to a five-year Farm Bill during the current lame-duck session are slim to none, as Republicans look ahead to control of the House, Senate and White House in 2025.
Many key programs included in the Farm Bill have funding through the end of the calendar year, but if there’s no extension or agreement, there could be very real consequences. However, another short-term extension of the 2018 Farm Bill is a possibility and a priority for leaders on Capitol Hill.
“We’re trying to work in a bipartisan, bicameral way to put forward a one-year extension. We would have to do that even if we got the Farm Bill passed today because USDA needs time to transition the new programs into effect,” said House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R- PA). “And then move promptly on the Farm Bill, my goal would be the first quarter of 119 Congress.”
In addition to working on a temporary extension and the full five-year Farm Bill, Thompson says his committee is also working to provide disaster relief for farmers and ranchers hit hard by recent hurricanes and storms.
