News & Views: Government Affairs Update Fall 2024

The Farm Bill Saga Continues...

With 2024 being an election year, several issues needing resolution are being pushed back into the upcoming lame-duck session, including the long-awaited passage of a new farm bill. With the current farm economy in shambles due to the sharp decline in commodity prices, high inflation, high input prices, and now devastating weather that has impacted the mid-south, a simple extension of the current (2018) Farm Bill will not be helpful.

The good news is that it appears our lawmakers have heard the message loud and clear, as multiple production agriculture groups have banded together, urging Congress to provide some form of ad hoc relief funding to help them weather the storm while still pursuing the passage of a meaningful farm bill before the end of the calendar year.

With Congress adjourning in late September after passing a continuing resolution to fund the government until December 20, all eyes now turn to the November elections. Congress will resume in early November, where we expect farm bill and ad hoc funding conversations to pick up where they left off. While little time remains to get something in place, the groundwork has been laid.

We hope the momentum generated in August and September will be enough to see things move swiftly through the House and Senate, resulting in new legislation before year-end.

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