News

Lawmakers hopeful farm bill can be completed by end of the year

There’s optimism in Congress a new farm bill can be completed by the end of the year.

Minnesota Farm Bureau vice president Carolyn Olson took part in the Federation’s annual policy fly-in to Washington D.C. earlier this month and says farm bill timing came up a lot.

“Most offices that we talked to understand that we won’t make the September 30th deadline at this point, but they are all hopeful that we will have a deal done by the end of the year.”

She tells Brownfield Farm Bureau members were assured an extension would maintain funding for farm bill programs farmers depend on.

“So that was reassuring, but there’s still a sense of urgency that we need to get this done and we need to get it done as soon as possible.”

Olson says ag committee leadership in the House and Senate talked about farm bill hearings in November if not sooner.