Will A Farm Bill Be Passed On Time?

What are the odds that Congress will pass a new Farm Bill by the end of the fiscal year in September?  Texas A&M Ag economist Joe Outlaw spoke at a recent Farm Foundation Forum in Washington DC.

"I actually think this bill is going to get done this year," Outlaw said. "Maybe not quite on time, but I think it's gonna get done."

Outlaw's outlook stems from projected monies available to write a new farm bill, which through the recent 2-year budget that Congress approved, included a boost in farm bill baseline spending overall. That includes some money tied to cotton and dairy programs in particular.

"There's not so much money that they're dreaming up new, completely different plans," Outlaw told the forum attendees. "It's tweaking what we have, trying to add to what we have as best they can."

Outlaw also acknowledged that the Farm Bill passage could face delays if Congress takes up additional issues between now and the end of September. Midterm elections could also take away time from crafting a new Farm Bill.