The 2013 Farm Bill’s future is unclear, despite there only being a few weeks left until the current farm bill expires and farmers are left in the lurch.
For the past few years, the farm bill has been stuck in limbo. While the Senate has managed to pass two farm bills in a little less than two years, the House has been a constant roadblock. Last fall, the House refused to allow a farm bill to reach the House floor (refusing to vote on the Senate bill and letting a House version die in committee).
While the House did pass they version of the farm bill this year, it also separated food stamp and nutritional funding from farm legislation, a move that many farmers think will weaken future farm bills and will almost certainly keep the bill from passing the Senate.
According to one farm lobbyist, “It’s been an ugly process, but this is a major reauthorization bill. When the House farm bill collapsed this summer that was — for a lot of people — a huge wakeup call. It becomes a symbol of Congress not getting its work done and 40 of the top 50 rural House districts are held by Republicans.”
Despite this sentiment, it is unlikely that many Republicans or Democrats will be eager to fight over the farm bill given that the White House and Congress are fighting a budget battle that may lead to a government shutdown at the start of October.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer