It is full speed ahead this week for Senate ag lawmakers as they work to meet the self-imposed July 4th deadline for the President’s “Big, Beautiful Bill.” However, they have hit a roadblock that has them looking for other cost-saving measures around the SNAP program.
Senators were looking at saving some major dollars by requiring states to cover more of the program’s costs, but the Senate Parliamentarian ruled that it cannot be done in the reconciliation process. Senate Ag Committee Chair John Boozman says SNAP must be improved in order to rein in federal spending. The proposed cuts to SNAP would have saved more than $200 billion over a decade.
In a recent call with ag reporters, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley said farmers need this bill to pass.
“If we get it through the Senate and House and signed by the President, we’ve got some certainty for farmers and some improvement in where farmers are today on those prices, and farmers will benefit.”
However, Grassley says the reconciliation bill could complicate Farm Bill talks. The President’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” includes most of the heavy lifting for the Farm Bill, a move Grassley says could slow down the chances of a traditional five-year Farm Bill.
OHFB President Bill Patterson shares an update from Washington on the group’s policy priorities and the issues shaping agriculture ahead of the 2026 planting season.
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Former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and Kansas congressman Dan Glickman joined RFD News to share his outlook on agricultural policy, bipartisan cooperation, and the challenges facing farmers today.
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The bill has already cleared the House Agriculture Committee and is headed toward a full House vote, but the timeline for final passage remains unclear. But the question is, when exactly? Could it possibly be a nice little gift for Easter?
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Acre reporting is crucial to maximize specialty crop aid.
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For producers, success this season will require more than just a clean field; it will require meticulous record-keeping, a proactive written mitigation plan, and a constant eye on both the forecast and the federal docket.
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UNL student fellow Alison Walbrecht shares her perspective on building support for agricultural research, extension, and teaching while gaining hands-on insight into federal policymaking.
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