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Vilsack: U.S. farmers need farm bill certainty

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says he’s encouraged to hear a new farm bill could be completed by the end of 2024, because U.S. farmers need certainty.

“I’ve got confidence in the leadership of the U.S. House and Senate that as they begin discussions in earnest that they’ll ultimately get to a resolution.”

But he says it will require a decision to be made on reference prices.

“You either have to be practical or add new money and at the end of the day, the leadership has to decide which of the two routes they follow.”

Vilsack says once a route forward is decided, it should be relatively easy to get a farm bill completed. And if lawmakers continue farm bill discussions into next year, he says there would be an extension of the uncertainty.

“Which isn’t good for farm country or rural America.”

He told reporters USDA will provide whatever help and assistance is needed by lawmakers to get a new farm bill completed.