With Congress now back from its August recess, leaders in both parties are saying they will resume talks to get a Farm Bill passed before the end of the year, even if it happens during a lame duck session.
Senate Agriculture chairwoman Debbie Stabenow has said she would do “everything in my power to pass a farm bill” this year. Farm-state lawmakers have been deadlocked for weeks over SNAP funding, higher crop subsidy spending, and climate mitigation. Stabenow has proposed an increase of at least 5% in reference prices, no cut in SNAP funding, and keeping the guardrails on climate funding, but has yet to release a full bill text.
Meanwhile, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota told reporters he is confident a new Farm Bill will get across the finish line after the November election. Emmer said House Ag Committee chair GT Thompson is ready to bring his version to the House floor.
Meanwhile, in an unusual move, commodity groups are coordinating efforts in bringing producers and other ag stakeholders to Washington, DC in an effort to get a new Farm Bill passed before the end of 2024.
Iowa banker Caleb Hopkins, vice chairman of the Ag and Rural Bankers Committee with the American Bankers Association, was reported by Politico as saying, “If the farm bill is not passed this year, agricultural producers will struggle to obtain credit during the 2025 production year. That will come as a blow to farmers who have experienced low commodity prices and high input costs.”
Lawmakers, who have just returned from recess, are working on must-pass legislation to keep the government open past September 30. That is also the day the one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill is set to expire.
