News

Boozman: differences remain on new farm bill

The Senate Ag Committee has yet to markup a new farm bill heading into the August recess.

Ranking Member John Boozman tells Brownfield there are still differing opinions on the bill and there’s not much time left if a mark up is going to happen before the November election.

“When you look at how many days of work we have left, it’s only like four traditional work weeks…It’s a real possibility some of this could get done in the lame duck session.”

He says he talks on a weekly basis with Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow about the farm bill and staff talk regularly, but it might take the pressure from ag groups to get to the markup.

“Right now, we’re just far apart as is the House with the Senate framework.”

Boozman says in the Senate, nutrition and commodity title updates remain an issue, but he says conservation title shouldn’t be a problem to work through.

House Ag Committee Chairman Glenn “G.T” Thompson said this week he’s open to an informal pre-conference negotiation with the Senate, even though it’s not a preferred option. Boozman says that could be a reasonable solution.

“We’re in a situation now where things aren’t quite like they have been before. Maybe we need to think outside the box and do things a little differently.”

And when asked if he thinks it will be 2025 farm bill, Boozman says “I hope not.”

Hear the interview.