An American Farm Bureau official says there may be another window for temporary farm aid in a lame-duck Congress, now that this week’s stopgap funding bill failed to include the relief.
Emily Buckman admits December, when this week’s stopgap deal runs out, will be very busy for lawmakers trying to fully fund federal agencies. And the election outcome will weigh heavily on Congress’ actions. But the AFB government affairs official says the fight for a five-year farm bill isn’t over; “We continue to push for that. Our members want that. We also acknowledge that there is a chance that it won’t get passed or that they won’t get one done by the end of the year, which is why we are calling for stronger economic and disaster assistance in a final FY 2025 package.”
And that ‘window’ for temporary aid could open should another farm bill extension be needed. Buckman says, “We are having those conversations. We all know that the commodity groups have been having those conversations. We’ve heard lawmakers mention it. So, we do believe that there’s a window for that additional assistance.”
But for now, the government won’t shut down, and key USDA programs will continue. The latest stopgap the House plans to vote on midweek, with the Senate to follow, extends WIC, Ag credit insurance, rural housing, and livestock mandatory reporting.
Story by Matt Kaye, Berns Bureau Washington; courtesy of NAFB News Service
