The ag industry remains hopeful that farmers will have peace of mind this year. The Farm Bill is long expired, and the Farm Bureau says America’s producers need answers now.
“We want to be able to have them farm next year, and they’re starting to make financial decisions alongside their lenders. And that uncertainty that is created is definitely…we have a lot of question marks from farmers saying, ‘what is Congress doing, what is Farm Bureau doing to provide that robust farm safety net?’” said Joe Gilson.
Some lawmakers have said another extension is the likely route, and ag professors at Oklahoma State tell the Oklahoma Farm Report they agree.
“Everything is on hold until the election at this point, but then we will start seeing some signals, either that some kind of farm bill is gonna happen in the lame-duck or some sort of longer-term extension will be passed. I think an extension is going to have to be passed either way, we’re not going to be done with the farm bill by December 31st at this point, given that we don’t even have language from the Senate Ag Committee,” said Amy Hagerman.
Congress will return to the Hill after the election, but there are several spending bills that need attention before that work can begin.
