Farmers and ranchers are still waiting for a new farm bill, but the release of a discussion draft means forward progress.
“The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 is the product of extensive feedback from stakeholders and all Members of the House, and is responsive to the needs of farm country through the incorporation of hundreds of bipartisan policies,” wrote House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson. “The release of this draft is a significant step forward in a years-long, deliberative process. The markup is one step in a greater House process that should not be compromised by misleading arguments, false narratives, or edicts from the Senate. I look forward to engaging with colleagues on both sides of the aisle as we move to markup.”
This new draft covers key issues such as crop insurance and securing farm safety nets through programs, addressing legislative issues created by California’s contentious Proposition 12 and the SOLAR Act, which protects farmland from solar development.
However, some of the draft has caused concern. Feeding America, the nonprofit food bank network, said that while improvements have been made to nutrition programs, the bill also contains provisions that may weaken resources provided to those facing hunger.
“Feeding America is particularly concerned by provisions that would prevent future benefits of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program from reflecting costs associated with updated nutrition guidance and the ways people shop and cook,” it wrote in a statement.
The draft version has also drawn the attention of the Former CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, Pacelle. Pacelle argues that the EATS Act, included in the updated farm bill, undermines progress in improving animal welfare standards.
The 2018 farm bill expired last year, and Congress passed a one-year extension. There is a major push to get a new bill through Congress.
Currently, operations are based on the extension of the 2018 farm bill, but there is hope that the new bill will be addressed by the agriculture committees and eventually reach the President’s desk.
“Signing a farm bill into law is vital to the food and agriculture sector, which benefits our economy, accounting for roughly one-fifth of U.S. economic activity and supporting nearly 23 million jobs,” wrote the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.
A key aspect of the farm bill’s success is its bipartisan nature. Historically, farm bills have garnered support from both parties due to their wide-reaching impact on agriculture and nutrition. Despite anticipated debates on specific policies across all 12 titles of the bill, there is confidence that a bipartisan agreement will be reached.
The next steps involve detailed policy discussions. Thompson in the House is moving toward a markup of the proposed text, an exciting development as it initiates specific policy debates.
The hope is that the Senate will soon follow suit. However, time is a critical factor, with presidential politics and close margins in the House making it increasingly challenging to pass a new farm bill this year.
The House Ag Committee will mark up the farm bill on Thursday, May 23. The current farm bill extension expires at the end of September.
»Related: Watchdog group delves into farm bill’s safety net programs