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Farm bill, economic aid face narrow September window, Farm Bureau economist says

An American Farm Bureau economist is eyeing a small window for Congress to provide certainty for agriculture.

John Newton tells Brownfield the clock is ticking once the August Recess concludes.

“And I think folks in farm country need to talk to their members of Congress while they’re back home this August. When they come back in September, we’ve got three weeks to get a farm bill done, get additional economic aid done, and then they adjourn for all of October for the election in November. They come back for a few weeks before Thanksgiving.”

He suggests progress will be difficult during that period, known as the “lame duck.”

“But this next period in September is so critical to get the things that we need over the finish line. And what farmers and ranchers can do right now in their communities, go to listening sessions (and) talk to your members of Congress to let them know how important these things are. Because our window of opportunity is very narrow.”

Newton says farmers need the certainty of a new five-year farm bill and some ad hoc aid to help address rising input costs.