Farm Bill Extension Faces Hurdles
Source: DairyNews.today
Efforts to extend the U.S. Farm Bill and provide economic relief to farmers have stalled amid opposition from House Republican leaders, who are resisting the use of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds for disaster aid.
A proposed one-year extension of the Farm Bill, which would include nearly $10 billion in immediate payments to struggling farmers, is now in jeopardy as Congress seeks to pass a government funding bill before December 20.
Senate and House Agriculture leaders are working to develop a package that would offer financial support to producers facing low prices and natural disaster impacts. The plan, spearheaded by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), calls for redirecting $10.7 billion from the IRA’s conservation funds to provide immediate economic aid. This proposal aims to allocate $8.84 billion in direct payments to farmers, with significant amounts earmarked for producers in states like Texas, Iowa, and Kansas, and additional funds for crop insurance rebates.
Stabenow’s plan also seeks to bolster the Farm Bill’s funding baseline by incorporating IRA conservation dollars. “This is all paid for and it puts $20 billion into the permanent baseline for the next farm bill,” Stabenow said, emphasizing the long-term benefits.
However, the proposal faces resistance from Republican leaders, particularly House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pa.), who is pushing for a $15 billion aid package. Some Republicans oppose the use of IRA funds, preferring to "claw back" the conservation money when they take control of Congress next year. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has voiced opposition to incorporating IRA funds into the Farm Bill, insisting on a “clean” one-year extension with no additional aid.
Despite these divisions, Stabenow remains hopeful that a compromise can be reached. “The risk right now is that nothing comes together, and we just do a one-year extension,” she warned. The plan is based partly on the bipartisan Farmer Assistance and Revenue Mitigation Act of 2024 (FARM Act), which has garnered significant Republican support.
Agriculture stakeholders, including the National Farmers Union (NFU), are urging Congress to act quickly. NFU President Rob Larew stressed that farmers are grappling with a range of economic challenges, including volatile commodity prices, high input costs, and declining net farm income. “It is even more essential to provide substantive assistance to commodities impacted by current economic challenges,” Larew said.
As negotiations continue, the fate of the Farm Bill extension and the proposed disaster relief package remains uncertain.
Senate and House Agriculture leaders are working to develop a package that would offer financial support to producers facing low prices and natural disaster impacts. The plan, spearheaded by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), calls for redirecting $10.7 billion from the IRA’s conservation funds to provide immediate economic aid. This proposal aims to allocate $8.84 billion in direct payments to farmers, with significant amounts earmarked for producers in states like Texas, Iowa, and Kansas, and additional funds for crop insurance rebates.
Stabenow’s plan also seeks to bolster the Farm Bill’s funding baseline by incorporating IRA conservation dollars. “This is all paid for and it puts $20 billion into the permanent baseline for the next farm bill,” Stabenow said, emphasizing the long-term benefits.
However, the proposal faces resistance from Republican leaders, particularly House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pa.), who is pushing for a $15 billion aid package. Some Republicans oppose the use of IRA funds, preferring to "claw back" the conservation money when they take control of Congress next year. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has voiced opposition to incorporating IRA funds into the Farm Bill, insisting on a “clean” one-year extension with no additional aid.
Despite these divisions, Stabenow remains hopeful that a compromise can be reached. “The risk right now is that nothing comes together, and we just do a one-year extension,” she warned. The plan is based partly on the bipartisan Farmer Assistance and Revenue Mitigation Act of 2024 (FARM Act), which has garnered significant Republican support.
Agriculture stakeholders, including the National Farmers Union (NFU), are urging Congress to act quickly. NFU President Rob Larew stressed that farmers are grappling with a range of economic challenges, including volatile commodity prices, high input costs, and declining net farm income. “It is even more essential to provide substantive assistance to commodities impacted by current economic challenges,” Larew said.
As negotiations continue, the fate of the Farm Bill extension and the proposed disaster relief package remains uncertain.
