Farm Bill Frustrations: Industry leaders and lawmakers are calling for a new five-year legislation

Farmers and ranchers are growing impatient waiting for a five-year Farm Bill.

The Idaho Farm Bureau says this year has been especially frustrating.

“We can’t control the weather. We can’t control Congress as hard as we try. We got a Farm Bill that’s two years overdue. We’re operating on such an outdated Farm Bill alone, all the way across the board. And every time it feels like you make a little progress, or you feel like we’re going to get something, the contention kicks in and it just becomes too political,” Bryan Searle, president of the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation.

Kansas Representative Tracey Mann recently spoke on the House floor, urging colleagues to act. He said he wants to see more focus on disease prevention in agriculture.

“It is past time for Congress to pass a fiscally conservative five-year farm bill, including support for agriculture research and development. We’ve seen the devastating impact disease outbreaks can have with the HPAI virus, and now we must take steps to prevent the New World Screwworm from reaching our borders,” said Rep. Tracey Mann.

House Ag Committee Chair GT Thompson hopes to have a new Farm Bill out of committee by this Fall.

Related Stories
Lawmakers advance FY27 agriculture funding bill, highlighting support for rural development, school lunches, disease response, and water issues.
National Pork Producers Council President Rob Brenneman joins us to discuss Prop 12 provisions in the House’s Farm Bill as it heads to the Senate for debate.
RealAg Radio’s Shaun Haney and other experts break down ongoing energy market volatility, its impact on producer decision-making, and key indicators farmers should monitor moving forward.
Farm legal expert Roger McEowen joins us to discuss the importance of a traditional Farm Bill and his concerns over shifting policy approaches.
The new county maps show farm program payments are widespread, but payment design still produces very different outcomes across regions and crops. AgriSompo’s Brooks York joins us to discuss the role of crop insurance in supporting mental health.
In an exclusive interview with RFD News correspondent Frank McCaffrey, Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX) expresses frustration with delays and increasing political divisions surrounding the bill.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

RealAg Radio’s Shaun Haney discusses Canada’s new soil health strategy, its implications for producers, and its potential to support sustainable agriculture in Canada compared to USDA funding for conservation.
National Association of Wheat Growers President Jamie Kress discusses how rising fertilizer prices pressure wheat producers and the Administration’s consideration of lowering duties on Moroccan phosphate.
Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Michael Kelsey joined us to discuss wildfire impacts across the Southern Plains, the importance of community support, and the path forward for affected producers.
RFA and ACE leaders join us to discuss the latest developments in ethanol policy, market impacts, and the path forward
ASFMRA’s Tony Toso joins us with an update on California farmland values, ongoing market uncertainty, and key discussions shaping agriculture in the Golden State.
Dr. Gold encouraged farmers and ranchers to prioritize eye safety in their daily routines, offering his expertise to help reduce risks on this week’s Rural Health Matters.