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NCFC: Senate Ag leaders close to bipartisan farm bill deal before August recess

The CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives says Senate Ag Committee leaders are optimistic about marking up a bipartisan farm bill before the August recess.

Duane Simpson says U.S. Senators John Boozman from Arkansas and Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota believe they are very close to a bipartisan deal.

“The option is there. They feel like they know what the contours of a deal are right now. I think the only reason it didn’t already happen this week was Senator Mitch McConnell’s health. And so when Senator McConnell is back then, he’s expected back anytime now. They, they should be able to get this, this bill out of committee.”

Simpson tells Brownfield he believes it.

“You don’t get this close on a farm bill and not get to the finish line.”

He says nutrition is still a hang up, but there seems to be a path forward.

“You know, it’s not solved yet, but members of both political parties were explaining the same solution, which means that they are very close to getting it in writing and getting it done.”

Simpson says how the farm bill actually ends up in conference, as a standalone bill or wrapped into a bigger package, is to be determined, but he’s optimistic a farm bill can get done before the end of the calendar year.

NCFC met with lawmakers last week as part of its summer fly-in.