WASHINGTON, DC (RFD NEWS) — House debate on the Farm Bill is moving into a second day after lawmakers opened floor action late Wednesday night and worked past 2:00 a.m. Thursday. While leaders were able to move routine amendments quickly, the most politically sensitive fights remain unresolved.
The House entered Committee of the Whole shortly after 10:40 p.m., holding an hour of general debate before beginning amendment work under a structured rule. A large en bloc package and several individual amendments were approved by voice vote, allowing the bill to advance on less divisive items.
The bigger story is what did not get settled. Recorded votes were postponed on several high-profile amendments, including renewable biomass language, hot rotisserie chicken in SNAP, repeal of the interstate EID eartag rule, pesticide-labeling preemption, and soda eligibility under SNAP.
Those issues now carry into Thursday’s session, where lawmakers continue working through amendments with a final vote expected later in the day. That means the next phase of debate will say more about the bill’s political strength than the opening round did.
One of the biggest flashpoints centers on ethanol policy, particularly year-round E15 sales, which could ultimately be addressed in separate legislation.
Minnesota Representative Angie Craig (MN-02) spoke about the rising fertilizer costs.
“I’m pretty sure that my farmers back home in Minnesota are far more concerned about how they’re going to afford fertilizer to make it to next year without a substantial loss than they are about emission standards on their tractors and the cost of diesel. It’s gone up 50% since the start of the war in Iran. Where are my colleagues amendments today, forcing this administration into policies that actually help family farmers? The tariffs have sent our trading partners to other markets, perhaps never to come back. And let’s talk about the domestic markets that we could be expanding into in this country, like year round E15, but are we taking a vote on year round E15 today? No.”
Overnight action also included movement on provisions to codify President Trump’s executive order creating the Office of Seafood, along with efforts to eliminate USDA’s mandatory RFID ear tag rule.
Soybean farmers are highlighting the risks of broad tariff actions, as the president of the American Soybean Association testified in a Section 301 hearing this week, underscoring the importance of international trade for the crop.
Scott Metzger, President of the American Soybean Association (ASA), joined us on Thursday’s Market Day Report to recap his testimony and discuss the potential impact on the industry.
In his interview with RFD News, Metzger discussed how past tariff actions implemented in response to Section 301 investigations have affected soybean exports. He also expressed concerns that the current investigation could disrupt ongoing negotiations with China and increase production costs for U.S. soybean farmers.
Metzger went on to discuss the soybean industry’s influence on policy in Washington and emphasized the importance of updating the Farm Bill, noting that current economic conditions pose significant challenges for producers.
Finally, he shared insights into how the growing season is progressing on his Ohio farm, including weather and input pressures, as well as his outlook for demand, pricing, and the global market.
