Bloomberg Government’s Rachel Umansky-Castro reported that “the farm bill is headed once again for a preliminary vote needed before it can reach the full Senate floor, where it would likely face a tough road to passage as Democrats continue to oppose it in its current form.“
“Senators on the Agriculture Committee say the massive legislative package likely has enough votes to advance during Wednesday’s markup now that Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who was absent for several months due to illness, has returned,” Umansky-Castro reported. “But Democrats remain unwilling to support the bill without changes related to cost shifts for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.”
Politico’s Jordain Carney and Meredith Lee Hill reported that “Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), who serves with McConnell on the Agriculture and Appropriations committees, told reporters Monday he expects McConnell to be in the Senate this week for ‘key’ votes — including one in the Agriculture panel Wednesday on the farm bill.”
“The senator’s staff told senior Republicans he would attend the planned Wednesday panel vote on the farm bill, which stalled earlier this summer amid his absence, according to three people with direct knowledge of the matter who were also granted anonymity,” Carney and Lee Hill reported. “McConnell mentioned finishing the farm bill as one of his priorities during his remaining time in the Senate.”
Progressive Farmer’s Jake Zajkowski reported that “if Republicans remain unified Wednesday, the committee could advance the legislation. But the larger challenge remains: Any farm bill reaching the Senate floor will require 60 votes,” Zajkowski reported. “Amendments are not expected during Wednesday’s markup, according to two sources familiar with Republican plans. Scheduled in the late afternoon, no amendments and limited speeches could wrap up the meeting quickly.“
“Russ Kremer, a pork producer and member of the American Meat Producers Association, a group working to prevent the Save Our Bacon Act from being considered in the farm bill, told DTN, ‘We don’t expect any type of amendments introduced, basically clean sailing,’ based on lobbying conversations this week,” Zajkowski reported.
Uncertainty in Full Senate Could Lead to Another Farm Bill Extension
Politico’s Rachel Shin and Grace Yarrow reported that “Democrats’ frustration — and the broader breakdown in the traditional agriculture policy coalition — stems directly from both parties advancing their farm bill priorities through the reconciliation process in recent years.”
“Republicans already used their domestic policy megabill to pass the most politically valuable policies that are normally part of the farm bill last summer, leaving policy updates without a clear path to become law,” Shin and Yarrow reported. “This year’s leftover farm bill docket includes a collection of consequential but less urgent policies, such as updates to outdated farm lending limits and changes to major USDA programs. Lawmakers need to pass a new authorization or another extension of the 2018 version of the bill before the end of the year.”
AgroLatam’s Marco Díaz Collins reported that “the calendar adds another layer of uncertainty as Washington approaches the midterm elections.”
“Boozman nevertheless sees a possible path even if negotiations extend beyond Election Day, noting that the previous farm bill was approved during a lame-duck congressional session,” Díaz Collins reported. “That precedent leaves lawmakers with additional time, but farmers have already waited years for a comprehensive update. The 2018 Farm Bill has remained the foundation of federal agricultural policy through extensions, even as production costs, commodity markets and financing needs have changed considerably.”
