Farms.com Home   Ag Industry News

Conferees Begin Farm Bill Negotiations

Lawmakers to Narrow Gap between House and Senate Food Stamp Cuts

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

It’s a tough job ahead of 41 farm bill conferees as they begin to reconcile the House and Senate versions on a renewed five-year food and farm policy, Wednesday.

The talks will largely center on food stamps. Lawmakers are tasked to reconcile $40 billion in cuts to nutrition programs proposed by the Republican-led House, while the Senate version would only cut about $400 million.

On the eve of conference negotiations, a coalition of 250 farm lobby groups reinforced the importance of a renewed farm bill, and the need for permanent law provisions. The groups also urged Congress to include a “meaningful nutrition title,” which can be signed by President Obama.

Proceedings on the bipartisan farm bill can be viewed live here at 2:30p.m. (ET): http://agriculture.house.gov.
 


Trending Video

How Can We Grow More Food With Less Impact?

Video: How Can We Grow More Food With Less Impact?

For over two decades, Dr. Mitloehner has been at the forefront of research on how animal agriculture affects our air and our climate. With deep expertise in emissions and volatile organic compounds, his work initially focused on air quality in regions like California’s Central Valley—home to both the nation’s richest agricultural output and some of its poorest air quality.

In recent years, methane has taken center stage in climate discourse—not just scientifically, but politically. Once a topic reserved for technical discussions about manure management and feed efficiency, it has become a flashpoint in debates over sustainability, regulation, and even the legitimacy of livestock farming itself.

Dr. Frank Mitloehner, Professor and Air Quality Specialist with the CLEAR Center sits down with Associate Director for Communications at the CLEAR Center, Joe Proudman.