News
House Ag Committee starts markup of ‘Farm Bill 2.0’
The House Ag Committee is expected to start the farm bill mark up today.
Jonathan Coppess with the University of Illinois says it’s not a traditional farm bill.
“I have a hard time considering it a farm bill because it’s not the full legislative omnibus vehicle that we are used to for the last 50 years.”
He says this version is filled with reauthorizations and items not included reconciliation. Some of the policies featured in the proposed legislation are considered controversial, including a Prop 12 fix, and a reduction in funding for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
“It’s just horribly oversubscribed,” he says. “So many farmers have been trying to get assistance in this program and there’s not enough money, so this is kind of odd to cut that program.”
He says there’s a missed opportunity in the bill to use the Conservation Reserve Program to help farmers in uncertain times, there’s also changes to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act proposed, which could impact glyphosate.
Coppess says it’s unclear whether this Farm Bill 2.0 will become law.
“The Congressional calendar is shorter this year with the mid-term elections and the politics have made it incredibly difficult to do anything. What will get accomplished in the current situation?”
Add Comment