“Commodities will be pitted against one another” if a Farm Bill isn’t passed, according to Rep. Angie Craig

Lawmakers have a full agenda for the coming weeks, but House Ag Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig is calling for the Farm Bill to be done.

It did not happen last session, and she says it will take a lot of bipartisan work to make it happen.

“We need a Farm Bill; we need a five-year full Farm Bill. Unfortunately, right now, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are intending to do what I’m calling a peace meal deal as part of the budget bill that’s coming up here in Washington over the course of the next couple of weeks. So they want to plus up reference prices and crop insurance, which you know, I agree it needs to happen, but it needs to happen as one of 12 titles in the Farm Bill. If it doesn’t happen through a traditional five-year Farm Bill coalition, then commodities are going to be pitted against one another, and we just don’t want that.”

Craig referenced the reconciliation process. Committee Chair GT Thompson recently said he wants to update safety nets and crop insurance through that bill. SNAP is another area likely to see significant debate. Thompson has stated that no cuts will be made to those who rely on those benefits.

Related Stories
House ag leaders had hoped to get the Farm Bill voted on by Easter, but no dates have been secured just yet.
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.
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.
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?
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.
National Pork Producers Council incoming president Rob Brenneman shares insights from the National Pork Industry Forum in Kansas City, where producers gathered to discuss Farm Bill policy, sustainability, and other priorities for the year ahead.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Canada’s new voluntary Grocery Sector Code of Conduct will take effect on Jan. 1, a goodwill effort to promote fairness and transparency between retailers and support farms that sell directly to stores.
With record grain harvests and rising global ethanol demand, leaders across the ag and energy sectors are pushing for year-round E15 sales to mitigate the strain on grain trade.
Pork producers warn that proposed definitions of “ultra-processed” food in guidelines from the “Make America Healthy Again” plan could negatively impact industry-standard bacon, sausage, and feed practices.
Concerns over Chronic Wasting Disease are fueling a long-standing legal battle between Minnesota regulators and deer farmers. The case could soon reach the state’s Supreme Court with broader implications for agriculture.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) are praising the passage of a bill to delist gray wolves as an endangered species by the U.S. House last week.
Recent USDA export sales data show China has been active in the U.S. market, but analysts tell RFD-TV News that the timing is a key clue.