The House of Representatives has left Washington, D.C. without passing a new farm bill, leaving farmers frustrated with the snail’s pace style of farm legislation that is becoming the new norm in Congress.
Last summer the farm bill came tantalizingly close to passing. The Senate passed a bipartisan bill and the House Agriculture Committee promoted a draft of the bill. However, Republican leaders in the House refused to let the bill move out of committee, killing it when Congress adjourned at the end of December.
With GOP leaders like John Boehner and Eric Cantor promising to bring the bil to the floor this summer, many farmers had hoped that a new bill was within reach.
The painful defeat of the farm bill, however, has shattered those hopes. Some Republicans are counting votes and whipping their members in consideration of a split-farm bill, one that separates food stamp funding from more traditional agricultural policies.
Prominent rural Democrats are unconvinced of this move’s viability. Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee Collin Peterson has not yet stated how he will vote on a split bill. “They [the Republicans] are whipping it and we’ll see what they get,” he said. “I think it’s a dumb idea.”
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmloans.com.
Follow us on: Twitter
Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer