The long-delayed Farm Bill may get a boost from a new strategy on Capitol Hill.
House Ag Chairman GT Thompson says he is looking to move key commodity and crop insurance provisions through the budget reconciliation process.
Those provisions from last year’s Farm Bill would be funded through Congress to SNAP. Thompson says benefits would not be cut. He also says the $230 billion in required budget cuts could be adjusted. Thompson still wants to pass a standalone Farm Bill this year, and he says any remaining pieces could be added later.
Despite the uncertainty, Congressman Dan Newhouse says he remains hopeful.
“This is not the first time in history that it’s been difficult to get a Farm Bill passed. There have been several times that it’s taken multiple attempts, so I’m not throwing in the towel or giving up on the effort. But I think it’s vital to agriculture that we update those things that are important to the industry, and I know the chairman is determined to get it passed as well. The fact that we’ve had some difficulties and obstacles is not uncommon. This is probably one of the hardest things to accomplish in Congress.”
The biggest challenge this time, according to Newhouse, is the debate surrounding food programs, particularly SNAP.
“It’s a high percentage of the Farm Bill that goes to food programs. And so, yes, it’s a big part of it. Some people have advocated for separating the nutrition part of the Farm Bill from the agricultural industry issues in the Farm Bill.”
