Farm Bill passes out of Senate Ag Committee

Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, back from a three-month health absence, cast the winning Ag Committee vote to send the Senate farm bill that Democrats blocked in August to the full chamber. McConnell, true to his word to help pass a farm bill, cast the 12th GOP vote needed to advance the Senate farm bill. Committee approval was a victory for Chair John Boozman despite a last-minute fight over a GOP amendment to reform livestock production standards to deal with California’s Prop 12.

“It’s been almost a decade since Congress last passed a farm bill,” said American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. “In the past 10 years, more than 200,000 family farms have gone out of business, as farmers grappled with a pandemic, global unrest, rising expenses and falling prices paid for the food they grow. A new, modernized farm bill will help give farmers the tools they need to survive continued and unforeseen challenges ahead. A strong farm bill ensures an abundant and safe food supply. It benefits every family in America, regardless of their political affiliation.”

Farm groups, including the American Soybean Association, urged lawmakers to continue bipartisan negotiations and work together to build the broad support necessary for passage. Noting that bipartisan commitment must continue across Congress to deliver a final farm bill that can be signed into law.

“Advancing the farm bill out of committee moves Congress closer to providing the certainty and support farmers need,” said Scott Metzger, president of ASA and Ohio soybean farmer. “ASA appreciates the work of committee members to move this critical legislation forward.”

Other groups says the legislation that was passed out of committee Wednesday doesn’t go far enough for American farm families.

“We need to hold two truths at once,” said National Farmers Union President Rob Larew. “This farm bill delivers some real improvements, and it will not stop the crisis farmers and ranchers are living through right now. Family farmers are caught between rising input costs, concentrated corporate power, and a farm safety net that no longer reflects the realities of farming today. American families are struggling with high prices and lack of robust nutrition programs. Incremental fixes won’t reverse that. We need bigger, bolder reform of farm policy. Without it, farms will keep going out of business, and rural communities and American families will pay the price. “As this farm bill moves forward, NFU will keep working with Congress to think beyond this bill and build farm and food policy that works for all American families.”

The National Pork Producers Council weighed in, pointing out that with various hurdles cleared, it is now time for leaders in D.C. to hear the persistent, urgent plea of America’s 60,000-plus pork producers to finally stop the threat of a state-by-state patchwork of farm animal housing laws spurred by California Proposition 12.

“America’s pork producers deserve a robust farm bill, which should come with protection from being forced to rebuild our barns every time another state decides it knows what is best for animal welfare,” said Rob Brenneman, NPPC president.

The question now is when Majority Leader John Thune will put the farm bill on the Senate floor, given the body’s in for just two-more weeks after this, before the November elections.