Lame-Duck Farm Bill Will be Difficult

While the lame-duck session of Congress represents one last chance at a farm bill, industry experts say it would require compromise on a number of tricky issues.  Farm Policy News said it would require House and Senate leaders to agree on spending in quite a few important areas.

One report says Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow holds the key to finishing a farm bill this year.  The question is whether she can work out a deal with the other major farm bill players.  Some insiders said Stabenow would like one last farm bill completion as a legacy item as she isn’t running for re-election.

An AgWeb report from Farm Journal says some long-time Washington contacts give the odds of getting a farm bill done at only 15%.  A veteran farm lobbyist said the simple resolution is for Republicans to drop SNAP cut demands and Democrats to agree to higher reference prices.

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