News

Senate Ag Committee poised to mark up skinny farm bill this spring

A U.S. Senator from Minnesota says the Senate Ag Committee is expected to mark up on a skinny farm bill later this spring.

Tina Smith says committee leaders are working on the details.

“Senator Boozman is still trying to assess whether it makes sense to bring the House bill over or whether we would mark up a Senate bill,” she says. “I would bet on marking up a Senate bill. I hope that happens, because it’s been so long overdue. The current farm bill extension will expire at the end of September.”

Smith says a skinny farm bill should include stronger support for ag research and more for rural development.

“We can complete the work Senator Ernst (Iowa) and I have been doing to help support rural childcare operations and a place where we can make some improvements to the energy provisions that have been so important.”

Smith says the devil will be in the details, and she’s awaiting next steps from committee leadership.