U.S. Senate passes farm bill, heads to the House

Jun 11, 2013

U.S. Senate passes farm bill, heads to the House

The U.S. Democrat-run Senate passed its version on the half-trillion farm bill late Monday. The bill passed with strong support, 66 to 27, and now heads to the Republican-controlled House.

The five-year farm bill eliminates direct payments to farmers while expanding a taxpayer-subsidized crop insurance program. The Senate version of the bill would cut the food stamp program by $400 million a year. Food stamps were added to the farm bill decades ago to gain urban lawmakers votes for farm subsidy programs. As the bill has evolved, the food stamp portion has grown exponentially and now represents 80 percent of the farm bill. The food stamp cuts are the major difference between the two versions. The House version calls for a $20-billion reduction. Despite the major differences, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwomen Debbie Stabenow, Democrat of Michigan said she is confident that it will come together.

House debate on the farm bill is expected to start June 17. It will take strong bipartisan support from the Senate and the House to pass the farm bill legislation before the extension of the farm bill expires Sept. 30.

Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.