Farm Bill Prospects Looking Dimmer

Farm bill prospects are looking dimmer after recent comments by Senate Ag Chair Debbie Stabenow and as other priorities crowd out the legislative calendar in a presidential election year. The hints started weeks ago.

“We can get this done if people are serious about it, if people are serious…I’m serious about it.”

That was Ag Chair Stabenow in January. But last month, Politico quoted her saying at a White House event, she’d rather stick with the lapsed ’18 farm law already extended one-year, than compromise with Republicans on SNAP and climate cuts.

Longtime GOP Ag Senator Chuck Grassley’s already made up his mind on whether there’s still time in a crowed legislative and political calendar to do a farm bill this year.

“No, for myself, but I think it’s more important to answer your question, by what I think I heard reported on Chairwoman Stabenow saying that she thinks the farm bill’s going to have to be extended for one more year. Sounds to me like she’s thrown in the towel.

Stabenow told nutrition advocates, when it comes to limiting anti-hunger programs in a new farm bill, “I’m not going to do it…so, if that means we continue the policies of the 2018 farm bill…then that’s Ok.” Republicans say they want ‘more farm in the farm bill,’ and argue the best way to do that is to reprogram some SNAP and climate spending.

Renowned Texas A & M Ag Policy chief Joe Outlaw was already looking at the ‘tea leaves’ on a Farm Policy Facts “Groundwork” podcast in January.

“I don’t expect it to be done in ’24, unless something wild happens after the election, and even then, if House or Senate flips, it’s going to be enough change that I don’t think it will happen early in ’25, either.”

Outlaw’s prediction—‘maybe a summer of ’25 farm bill.’

-NAFB