Ag Expert: Farm Bill Future Not A Simple One

It’s a question on the minds of many in the ag industry.  Will Congress pass a Farm Bill on time?  Ed Elfmann, senior Vice President  of ag and rural banking with the American Bankers Assocation, says partially.

“In 2018, there will be a Farm Bill out of the House.  Timing is unsure at this point, I believe chairman Conaway would like to get one done tomorrow.  Early in the year, we’ll see it come through the markup process, and then potentially on to the House floor, and whether it passes is always an interesting dynamic in of itself.”

Elfmann added he does not anticipate many large changes to the Farm Bill.  He said there could be several changes to the loan side, through FSA.  And added we could see changes to ARC and PLC, as well as programs specifically for dairy and cotton.

Elfmann noted he doesn’t feel the Senate is as motivated to get a Farm Bill passed by the end of the Fiscal Year, September 30^th.

“A big part of that is just Senate politics.  You have a lot of rural democratic senators who are running for reelection and a Farm Bill is an easy way for them to say, ‘Hey, I’m compromising and I’m working’.  And I hope we don’t have politics play into a Farm Bill but I don’t know if I can tell you the last farm Bill where politics didn’t play in.”

Elfmann was one of several speakers at this year’s Ag Banker’s Convention in Milwaukee, WI.

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