Congress has until Sept. 30 to extend the 2018 version or pass a new bill
Congress has a little over two weeks to pass a new Farm Bill or grant the 2018 Farm Bill its fourth extension to keep programs funded.
The 2018 Farm Bill, and other legislation like The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, will expire on Sept. 30.
In the Farm Bill’s case, the House of Representatives passed its version on April 30, meaning the holdup lies in the Senate.
“We are hopefully making progress,” South Dakota Senator and Senate Majority Leader John Thune told Dakota News Now on Sept. 8. “We marked it up at the Senate Ag Committee (in August), it was a tie vote.”
The bill needs to pass the committee stage before it can move to a full Senate vote.
What’s causing the hold up?
An issue related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a sticking point between Republicans and Democrats.
States with error rates higher than 6 percent, which include underpayments and overpayments, are facing new cost-sharing requirements beginning next October.
In 2025, for example, Alaska’s error rate of 23.15 percent, was the highest in the country. And South Dakota’s error rate of 2.47 was the lowest.
The national average was 10.62 percent according to USDA data.
Republicans proposed a one-year delay as a compromise, but Democrats want a two-year window.
A policy update from the Organic Farmers Association indicates a vote could occur around Sept. 15.
“This plan hinges on strong Republican attendance,” it says.
What are farm groups saying?
The American Farm Bureau Federation wants a new bill passed as soon as possible.
The 2018 version is outdated and needs to be replaced.
“As farmers and ranchers navigate one of the most challenging farm economies in a generation, this legislation provides much-needed certainty and support,” the organization said. “The Senate Agriculture Committee should advance the bill in a bipartisan manner.”
The National Corn Growers Association is also urging lawmakers to find a path to pass the bill.
Especially since it includes language related to E15.
“We implore senators to approve a bipartisan farm bill that extends consumer access to E15 and serves the interests of America’s farmers. We are running out of time in this Congress and urge action as quickly as possible,” NCGA President Jed Bower said in a statement.