Proposed Extension of 2018 Farm Bill to Include Temporary Funding and Program Changes
Source: The DairyNews
The U.S. House of Representatives is considering a complex plan that would extend federal program funding levels and temporarily extend the 2018 Farm Bill into 2024. The plan, proposed by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana), involves a continuing resolution that would extend funding for some agencies, including agriculture, until January 19, and others until February 2. This measure aims to avert a potential government shutdown on November 17.
The House and Senate Agriculture Committees leaders have agreed on a provision to extend the 2018 Farm Bill, pushing the creation of the 2023 Farm Bill into next year. The extension is seen as a short-term solution to avoid a lapse in funding for critical agricultural programs and provide certainty to producers. The leaders stressed that the extension is not a substitute for passing a five-year farm bill, and they remain committed to working together to achieve it in the coming year.
As part of this proposed extension, the Supplemental Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program, initially approved in a COVID-19 relief bill in December 2019, would be rolled into the regular DMC program. The Supplemental DMC was designed to support small and mid-sized dairy producers, allowing them to adjust milk production history baselines based on actual 2019 milk marketing. The extension plan would mainstream the Supplemental DMC into the farm bill, folding it into the regular DMC program for future inclusion.
The proposed extension also addresses the potential "dairy cliff," preventing some dairy policies from reverting to "permanent law" established in 1938. The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) supports the extension, and the leaders are working to pass a 10-month extension of the 2018 Farm Bill, effective until October 2024. Parts of the current farm bill have already expired, and more safety net programs are set to expire on January 1, 2024. The extension aims to provide stability and prevent disruptions in critical agricultural programs.
As part of this proposed extension, the Supplemental Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program, initially approved in a COVID-19 relief bill in December 2019, would be rolled into the regular DMC program. The Supplemental DMC was designed to support small and mid-sized dairy producers, allowing them to adjust milk production history baselines based on actual 2019 milk marketing. The extension plan would mainstream the Supplemental DMC into the farm bill, folding it into the regular DMC program for future inclusion.
The proposed extension also addresses the potential "dairy cliff," preventing some dairy policies from reverting to "permanent law" established in 1938. The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) supports the extension, and the leaders are working to pass a 10-month extension of the 2018 Farm Bill, effective until October 2024. Parts of the current farm bill have already expired, and more safety net programs are set to expire on January 1, 2024. The extension aims to provide stability and prevent disruptions in critical agricultural programs.
