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Conner says House Ag Committee releasing some farm bill details

The CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives says the House Ag Committee is starting to release the details of a new farm bill.

Chuck Conner tells Brownfield a few ag groups and trade associations have been briefed by the majority staff on the House Ag Committee on the details, “There’s nothing, I think, in it that’s going to be dramatic, most of the provisions I think are somewhat, I don’t want to say non-controversial, but they’ve been worked through. 80% of the bill was probably something that would garner very broad support, the 20% is really tough.”

Conner says there are controversial decisions lawmakers still need to make between the commodities, nutrition and conservation titles of the farm bill and Republican lawmakers would still like to see an increase in reference prices, “Will Democrats eventually send a few resources that way that enable you to have a bipartisan bill? That’s what’s going to determine whether we get a farm bill in 2024 or not, I think.”

Conner say a public draft of the farm bill won’t likely be available until a few days before the committee marks up the bill and House Ag Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson says he’d like a markup in committee before Memorial Day.

Brownfield’s Carah Hart spoke with Conner at NAFB’s Washington Watch in Washington D.C.