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 We’re operating on such an outdated Farm Bill alone, all the way across the board.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
Farm Credit’s Christy Seyfert joined us to discuss the ag industry’s push for swift Farm Bill action as it heads toward a House vote.
RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper joined us to discuss the proposed E15 amendment in the Farm Bill, industry reaction to the legislation, and the outlook for year-round E15 sales.
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins hints at new fertilizer plan while trade deals, soybean markets, and farm bill momentum drive ag policy discussion.
U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman and U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin meet with Ohio farmers to discuss E15 expansion, rising input costs, trade concerns, and the need to move forward on a new farm bill.
New farm bill amendment renames the 1890 National Scholars Program after Rep. David Scott, highlighting support for HBCU ag education.
Farm programs remain small but politically easier to expand.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Legendary singer/songwriters Wynn Varble and Rory Feek bring together some of their favorite songs, stories, and songwriters each week for the second season of Muletown in the Round, an exciting music & entertainment program returning to RFD-TV!
Monday, 8/28/23 – 10 PM ET | 9 PM CT | 8 PM MT | 7 PM PT
Thurs., August 24, 2023 — 10 PM ET | 9 PM CT | 8 PM MT | 7 PM PT
Monday, 8/7/23 – 10 PM ET | 9 PM CT | 8 PM MT | 7 PM PT
Meet the kids behind the Summer Market Lamb Show in Montgomery County, Tennessee, and hear why they would rather spend their Saturdays showing lambs than doing anything else!