PIERRE, S.D. (MITCHELLNOW) 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.
House and Senate Republicans have insisted on a 15% increase in so-called reference prices, which would make it easier to trigger subsidy payments for row crops, with the cost offset in part by a $29 billion cut in SNAP funding. They also would allow a windfall of $13 billion for climate mitigation to be spent on conservation practices that do not reduce greenhouse gas emissions or sequester carbon.
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. In a statement on Friday, Stabenow said USDA reports showing an increase in food insecurity and a decline in farm income were proof it was time for action.
The House has yet to act on the Republican-written farm bill, HR 8467, that was approved by its Agriculture Committee on May 24. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the bill was $33 billion over budget, mostly due to increased spending on commodity supports. Congressional Republicans have blamed farm bill inaction on the Senate.
A one-year extension of the2018 farm bill expires on Sept. 30, but the lapse would not be felt until January, beginning with milk prices.