A Farm Bill Vote Could Happen Before Month’s End

Farmers that have been struggling while waiting for an updated Farm Bill, there may be reason for optimism.  House Ag Committee Chair GT Thompson said he’s pushing for more assistance to keep farmers afloat.

"Well, that's something I've been talking about ever since the first tranche of farmer aid was announced by the USDA," Thompson said.  "I appreciate Secretary Rollins and her leadership team and what they've done in rolling that money out. And even right before that went out, I was engaged with her in conversation, made it quite clear I felt that we need additional money, especially for specialty crops, and so I think that, I think there's momentum that's happening with that. It will not be a part of the Farm Bill. It doesn't really fit within the farm bill, but it is a separate effort. I'm certainly leaning in on."

Thompson Wants More Money For Specialty Crops

Thompson noted with everything going on in geopolitics impacting agriculture, he said any specific amount of financial assistance will be a moving target.

“Some of the numbers I've heard on the Senate side, and I've been working with Senator Bozeman and Senator Hoven, on this issue, and they've talked about doing, I believe, $15 billion, and ten of that, I'm assuming, would be for row crops. I'd like to see it, not $15 [billion], but probably $20 to $20-plus, because I think our specialty crop growers are in a very difficult situation as well. And there are so many different specialty crops, well over 1,000 of them.”

Thompson added he is optimistic that the Farm Bill will come up for a vote in the House before the end of this month.

“I think with everything our farmers are facing, this just needs to be a bridge, and a bridge to all the great policies that we put in place, the great investments, as a part of HR One, and the updated policies that we have put into the Farm, Food, and National Security Act that'll be considered on the House floor, I anticipate with confidence, before May 1st.”

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