WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD NEWS) — Senate Agriculture Committee leaders are targeting this summer for action on a long-awaited Farm Bill, with Chairman John Boozman signaling that a committee markup could take place during the congressional summer recess.
Speaking with Agri-Pulse, Boozman said he is considering moving forward with a markup between early July and August after the committee’s earlier goal of completing the process by the end of June slipped.
Boozman also told reporters this week that he expects to release legislative text for the Farm Bill within the next several weeks, giving lawmakers and stakeholders their first detailed look at the Senate’s proposal.
The timeline comes as farm groups continue pressing Congress to complete a new five-year Farm Bill amid ongoing concerns about commodity prices, input costs, risk management programs, and farm profitability.
E15 Likely to Remain Separate
While work on the Farm Bill moves forward, Boozman does not expect year-round E15 legislation to be included in the package. Instead, Senate leadership appears to be pursuing a separate path for the measure.
John Thune told Agri-Pulse that Senate Republicans are working on a proposal addressing year-round E15 sales, though details are still being finalized.
The Senate’s approach follows action in the House, where lawmakers last month approved standalone legislation that would allow the year-round sale of E15 nationwide.
Supporters argue the measure would expand domestic demand for corn, provide consumers with additional fuel choices, and offer potential savings at the pump. However, the Senate has yet to outline exactly how it plans to advance the legislation.
With Farm Bill negotiations continuing and E15 discussions moving on a separate track, agriculture groups will be closely watching Capitol Hill in the coming weeks as lawmakers work to finalize priorities before the fall legislative calendar becomes increasingly crowded.
