News

Economist concerned about farm bill delays

An agricultural economist is concerned about the delays in Washington and how they affect the new farm bill. 

Jonathan Coppess at the University of Illinois tells Brownfield the first continuing resolution extended the 2018 Farm Bill for a year covering the 2024 crop year, but there has been no progress since. “Honestly, this sort of kicking the can down the road on appropriations and funding issues will only continue to slow up progress on a farm bill because it’s not moving until this is sorted out.”

Coppess says he would not be surprised if the farm bill isn’t completed until 2025. “It’s a really difficult legislative calendar let alone the myriad of challenges within the chambers to get anything done right now so there is reason for pessimism but there is a narrow and somewhat rocky path maybe to getting one done by the end of this year.”

Coppess says the Republicans in the House don’t have a working majority with only a two-vote margin and the Freedom Caucus voting against other Republicans on key issues.