WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House Agriculture Committee advanced a new five-year farm bill on Thursday, sending it to the House floor for a full vote.
What You Need To Know
The House Agriculture Committee advanced a new five-year farm bill on Thursday, sending it to the House floor for a full vote
The 800-page bill fills holes in farmer safety net programs and nutrition assistance that were left by President Donald Trump’s sweeping domestic policy law enacted last summer
Many farm industry groups, including the Ohio Farm Bureau and American Soybean Association, urged Congress to pass the bill
The farm bill was traditionally a bipartisan effort held together by a coalition of rural lawmakers supporting food assistance and rural lawmakers supporting farm interests. However, despite some bipartisan support for the new farm bill, Democrats on the House Agriculture Committee said amid partisan disputes, that coalition was now dead.
After more than 20 hours of debate, the committee approved the 800-page bill, which fills holes in farmer safety net programs and nutrition assistance that were left by the Big, Beautiful Bill Act, President Donald Trump’s sweeping domestic policy law enacted last summer.
“There are a lot of new policies for people getting into the business of farming, policy specifically for the succession of family farms, which is 96% of the farms in my district,” said Rep. Dave Taylor, R-Ohio. “Also, $60 billion of investment in expanding trade markets.”
Lawmakers said the safety net programs were especially important as farmers face strong economic headwinds, including higher costs and lower crop prices. Those challenges were exacerbated by the trade war sparked by Trump’s tariffs.
“Cuts to food aid, both international and domestic. Persistent labor challenges. Lost markets. Deteriorating trade relationships. These are the same concerns I hear reflected on the ground, and this bill fails to address any of them,” Rep. Shontel Brown, D-Ohio, the number two Democrat on the Agriculture Committee, said in a markup hearing this week.
Many farm industry groups, including the Ohio Farm Bureau and American Soybean Association, urged Congress to pass the bill.
“The farm bill is usually renewed every five years but has not been updated since 2018.
“It’s been eight years trying to get this done. We need a comprehensive farm bill so we have a safety net in place,” said Scott Metzger, president of the American Soybean Association and Ohio farmer.
