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Farm Bill work continues in Senate, one-year extension is likely

Speaker elections might be delaying farm bill progress in the U.S. House, but the U.S. Senate continues its work on the new farm bill’s framework.

At a farm bill roundtable on Friday, Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman said updates to risk management tools are a priority and lawmakers are still trying to find money needed to make those updates.

“I’m a big supporter of reference prices, the Ag Risk Coverage program and crop insurance,” he says. “Farmers need the risk management tools that reflect what’s happening today compared to 2012. I don’t know where we get the money for it, but in order for farmers to be successful in the future, we’re going to have to come up with it. Why do a different farm bill if you’re not going to put these things in place that will make a difference for farmers?”

He told reporters that lawmakers can work with whoever is named the next U.S. House Speaker to advance the legislation.

“The House has to figure it out and they will. Whoever that is, we’ll work with them so they understand how important the farm bill is.”

Boozman said he would like a year-long extension of the current farm bill and that extension could be included in a solution to fund federal government.