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Alford: the uncertainty of the farm bill is in the U.S. Senate

Optimism remains in the U.S. House to advance a farm bill by the end of September, but it’s unclear what will happen in the U.S. Senate.

U.S. Congressman from Missouri Mark Alford tells Brownfield the U.S. House is still likely to vote on a farm bill when lawmakers return to Washington D.C. in September.

“I just talked to House Ag Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson yesterday and he’s still confident after speaking to the House Speaker we can get this farm bill on the floor in September. We have 33 days left.”

He says recent Congressional Budget Office scoring isn’t a concern for the bill, but advancing a farm bill in the U.S. Senate could be and its the farm bill’s fate in the lame duck session in December might come down to what happens in the election.

“If President Trump is re-elected, I think the Senate will push through their version of the farm bill and go to Congress.”

Josh Hawley, a U.S. Senator from Missouri, says leaders on the Senate Ag Committee can’t come to an agreement and the clock is ticking.

“We can’t wait indefinitely for a new farm bill. We need it this year.”

Brownfield interviewed Alford and Hawley at the Missouri State Fair in mid-Missouri.