The Farm Bill at a Crossroads: Ongoing Debates and Delays
KC Graner, Senior Vice President of Agronomy
As of September 2024, the United States Farm Bill remains at a critical juncture. The Farm Bill is a comprehensive piece of legislation that governs a wide range of agricultural and food programs. The current bill (passed in 2018) was set to expire at the end of September 2023, but ongoing debates and political disagreements have delayed the passage of a new bill. This legislation is renewed approximately every five years and plays a vital role in shaping U.S. agricultural policy, food assistance programs, rural development, and conservation initiatives. The Farm Bill is generally considered to be amongst the most bipartisan in the mutual political effort, however, the election year seems to have added rigidity to the political parties’ willingness to consider policy over politics. Several contentious issues have contributed to the delays in passing the new Farm Bill. One major point of contention is nutrition assistance programs, especially the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which accounts for nearly 80% of the Farm Bill's budget. Lawmakers are divided over whether to expand or restrict eligibility for these benefits. Some lawmakers are advocating for tighter work requirements for recipients, while others emphasize maintaining or increasing support for low- income households. These are certainly necessary programs, yet the overarching budget deficit and inflation story to fund a similar bill as the 2018 version is amplifying the complexity of the issue this time around. Climate and conservation efforts are also at the forefront of discussions. Many lawmakers and agricultural organizations are pushing for stronger support for conservation programs that help farmers adopt sustainable practices to reduce emissions and improve soil health.
These programs are particularly important as the agricultural sector is seen as a key player in combating climate change. Some legislative members are concerned about the costs and implementation challenges of these initiatives – generally, the lack of understanding of the costs farmers incur is something advocacy groups are working to remedy. CFS leaders have spent time in Washington DC each of the past three summers to advocate for farmers on the need for subsidy programs related to these conservation efforts. Commodity support programs are the most important portion of the Farm Bill that CFS advocates for given their impact on CFS owner’s operations. These crucial programs provide financial assistance to farmers, and it can be easily argued that these programs are a matter of national food and energy security. With volatile markets and climate-related risks affecting farmers' livelihoods, the advocacy ask has consistently been to expand or update safety nets and crop insurance programs to better protect producers. Much like the issue with policy for the SNAP program, however, budget constraints are complicating decisions on how much funding to allocate. Legislators are rightfully concerned about overspending and must make difficult choices on which parts of the budget to trim out. While discussions continue, temporary extensions of the 2018 Farm Bill have been enacted to prevent major disruptions in farm programs and food assistance. These extensions are not a long-term solution. The agricultural industry players (including farmers, cooperatives like CFS, and upstream and downstream commodity handlers) are growing increasingly concerned about the lack of certainty. Without a new Farm Bill, programs that are crucial for supporting farmers' incomes, ensuring food security, and promoting environmental conservation could face funding
shortages or operational delays. Despite the delays, there is hope that a bipartisan agreement will be reached soon. Key lawmakers in the Senate and House Agriculture Committees are working to address differences and finalize a bill that balances the needs of farmers, consumers, and environmental sustainability. Versions have been drafted in the House and the Senate. As negotiations continue, the future of U.S. agriculture, food policy, and rural development remains in the balance, with the next Farm Bill expected to shape the industry for the next half- decade.
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online