Long definitions exist for the Farm Bill. Here are a couple:
“In the United States, the farm bill is a comprehensive omnibus bill that is the federal government’s primary agricultural and food policy instrument. Congress typically passes a new farm bill every five to six years. Congress makes amendments to provisions of permanent law, reauthorizes, amends, or repeals provisions of preceding temporary agricultural acts, and puts forth new policy provisions for a limited time into the future.”
Or another:
“The Farm Bill is a huge, complex piece of legislation, and its path through Congress will be filled with twists and turns. We’re closely following this journey, looking at how the proposed bills in the House and Senate will impact farmers, eaters, and residents of rural communities.”
In the months ahead, reports will keep updated with the latest news on the Farm Bill and opportunities. Some of the provisions in the legislation involve food safety.
House Ag Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson is defending his proposal to fund the farm bill to move the legislation by Memorial Day.
“Anyone who criticizes our funding framework is either ignorant of the details or being disingenuous,” he said.
Thompson, R-PA., also indicated he would include a scaled-back alternative to the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act in the farm bill. The EATS Act — previously garnered support from pork-state lawmakers but opposition from many Capitol Hill Democrats and states
He will also address Prop 12 within the farm bill, the EATS Act. “It will be very respectful of states’ rights and states deciding within their borders what their agricultural practices are.”
Thompson said the odds are pretty good for obtaining support from Democrats on the committee.
A $1.7 trillion farm bill must come together by September because that’s when the current bill expires.
Rep. Thompson’s Senate counterpart, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-MI, is retiring at the end of the year.
The Farm Bill comes up for renewal every five years. The current version was passed in 2018
The bill comprises 12 titles and a broad range of items; money can go toward research, colleges, and rural development like broadband expansion.
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