Final 2024 Farm Bill Push Underway on Capitol Hill

Agri-Pulse’s Philip Brasher reported this past weekend that “farmers who grow the crops being hammered the hardest by commodity market declines are hitting Capitol Hill this week, accompanied by ag bankers and Farm Credit lenders, to make a last-ditch push for a new farm bill.”

“In an unusual lobbying move, teams of farmers representing the row crops that depend on the major commodity title programs plan to visit House and Senate offices, with the groups accompanied by an ag lender to help the case that many farmers will face a dire financial situation heading into next year because of the price declines,” Brasher reported. “…A veteran lobbyist told Agri-Pulse the use of cross-commodity teams of farmers to lobby Congress was done at least once before, in lobbying for what became the 2002 farm bill. Commodity groups generally don’t coordinate with each other in visiting lawmakers and their staffs.”

“‘Congress must act before the end of the year to get that [the farm bill] across the finish line,’ said Jake Westlin, vice president of policy and communications for the National Association of Wheat Growers. ‘”It’s not going to be any easier next year,'” Brasher reported.

Politico’s Grace Yarrow and Meredith Lee Hill reported Monday that “more than 300 state and national agriculture groups signed a letter sent to congressional leaders today urging action on a new farm bill, citing economic conditions, natural disasters and other challenges facing farmers.”

“‘If the farm bill is not passed this year, agricultural producers will struggle to obtain credit during the 2025 production year,’ said Iowa banker Caleb Hopkins, vice chairman of the Ag and Rural Bankers Committee with the American Bankers Association, in a statement to MA,” according to Yarrow and Lee Hill’s reporting. “‘That will come as a blow to farmers who have experienced low commodity prices and high input costs that have reduced their equity and affected their cash flow in ways that haven’t been seen in years.'”

“The push comes on the heels of a recent USDA report forecasting a 6.8 percent decline in net farm income in 2024 — a statistic American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall told us he hopes will add pressure to pass a new farm bill,” Yarrow and Lee Hill reported.

Stabenow Says She’ll Push for Farm Bill

Successful Farming’s Chuck Abbott reported that “with Congress resuming work after its summer recess, Senate Agriculture chairwoman Debbie Stabenow said she would do ‘everything in my power to pass a farm bill’ this year. Farm-state lawmakers have been deadlocked for weeks over SNAP funding, higher crop subsidy spending, and climate mitigation.”

“‘We need a farm bill that protects critical food assistance for families and provides support farmers need to thrive,’ said Stabenow,” according to Abbott’s reporting. “‘That has always been the foundation of the farm bill, pairing farm and family coalitions together and working toward a common goal — not pitting one against the other.'”

“Stabenow’s description of the ideal farm bill coalition was similar to previous statements. She has proposed an increase of at least 5% in reference prices, no cut in SNAP funding, and keeping the guardrails on climate funding,” Abbott reported. She has not, however, released a full bill text at this time.

Top House Republican Confident in 2024 Farm Bill Passage

Brownfield Ag News’ Mark Dorenkamp reported at the end of last week that “the Majority Whip in the U.S. House is confident a new farm bill will be completed by the end of the year. Minnesota Republican Tom Emmer tells Brownfield House Ag Committee chair GT Thompson is ready to bring his version to the House floor.”

“He says if Congress can pass a continuing resolution by the end of this month it would give farm bill negotiators time during the lame duck,” Dorenkamp reported. “…’That’s when the sausage will be made, and the farm bill I would imagine is going to find its way into a final deal before the end of the year. I believe that’s where we’re headed, but we’ll have to see.'”