With the deadline for a new Farm Bill come and gone, lawmakers are now trying to finalize a plan for the nation’s spending, and that could complicate the Farm Bill process.
Bart Fischer with Texas A&M University says the current bickering on Capitol Hill is likely a good indicator of the challenges facing the Farm Bill. The 2018 legislation expired over the weekend, just as Congress passed a last-minute stopgap spending bill to keep the government running, but that deal is only good through mid-November.
Fischer says there are still a lot of unknowns regarding this year’s Farm Bill, and discussions around money for it will likely be challenging.
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Farm programs remain small but politically easier to expand.
Pat Hord with the National Pork Producers Council joined us to recap producer meetings in Washington and discuss key policy priorities including Prop 12 and agricultural labor.
March 15 of each year is the application deadline for the Pima Cotton Trust, and March 1 of each year is the application deadline for the Wool Trust. The law mandates trust payments by April 15. More information about these programs is available at www.fas.usda.gov/programs.
While the Farm Bill is top of mind right now, it is far from the only issue getting attention in Washington.
The sugar policy debate affects prices, trade, and farm stability.
More Farms File for Bankruptcy As Strong Farm Loan Demand Boosts Bank Earnings
