Dairy Industry Optimistic for Farm Bill Passage in 2024
Sourse: The DairyNews
As 2024 begins, there is a sense of hope and expectation within the dairy industry for the passage of a new farm bill this year. Chris Galan, Senior Vice President of Member Services and Governance at the National Milk Producers Federation, reflects on the events surrounding the Farm Bill in 2023.
Last year, the Farm Bill was scheduled for completion, but a notable development in the House of Representatives, with the resignation of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and subsequent battles over his replacement, took precedence. The budgetary issues arising from these events left little time to address the new Farm Bill.
With an extension in effect for most of the previous calendar year, Galan emphasizes the need for the House and Senate to now focus on making crucial decisions.
"They'll have a House version and a Senate version, and they compromise those two different versions together, reconcile any differences, and then they ultimately have to repass that compromise room in the House and Senate before the President will sign it," explains Galan. He stresses that these steps need to occur by the summer to avoid the possibility of another extension. While he remains optimistic about the process, Galan acknowledges the unpredictability of a presidential year and the potential for unforeseen events.
The dairy industry, therefore, looks forward to the legislative progress on the Farm Bill in the coming months, aiming for a comprehensive and timely resolution that addresses the needs of all stakeholders.
With an extension in effect for most of the previous calendar year, Galan emphasizes the need for the House and Senate to now focus on making crucial decisions.
"They'll have a House version and a Senate version, and they compromise those two different versions together, reconcile any differences, and then they ultimately have to repass that compromise room in the House and Senate before the President will sign it," explains Galan. He stresses that these steps need to occur by the summer to avoid the possibility of another extension. While he remains optimistic about the process, Galan acknowledges the unpredictability of a presidential year and the potential for unforeseen events.
The dairy industry, therefore, looks forward to the legislative progress on the Farm Bill in the coming months, aiming for a comprehensive and timely resolution that addresses the needs of all stakeholders.
