AFBF Urges Senate Support of Farm Bill

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Farm Bill Farm Policy

Brian Glenn

Director, Government Affairs

Chad Smith

Associate News Service Editor, NAFB

photo credit: AFBF

Brian Glenn

Director, Government Affairs

Chad Smith

Associate News Service Editor, NAFB

The Senate Ag Committee has scheduled a markup of its farm bill this week. Chad Smith has more.

Smith: The Senate Agriculture Committee’s farm bill markup is scheduled for this Thursday. Brian Glenn, director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, says the bill contains several major wins for Farm Bureau and U.S. agriculture.

Glenn: The bill delivers on year-round E15. There are provisions to help lower high input costs. There are updates and increases to credit and loan limits. There are expanded programs and support for risk management tools for specialty crop growers.

Smith: The current text is quite different from the initial discussion draft released earlier this year, and involved significant negotiations and compromises to get to this point.

Glenn: This updated draft incorporates several of those bipartisan conversations and priorities. The farm bill now includes updated language to deliver year-round E15, and it includes a one-year delay in the SNAP benefit cost share with states that is set to go into effect.

Smith: The bill is now on to markup Thursday, with both Republicans and Democrats able to offer amendments to the legislation.

Glenn: Farm Bureau is strongly urging Senate Ag Committee members to support bipartisan passage of the farm bill. The time is now for a farm bill. If the Senate Ag Committee does not advance this bill out of committee this week, our window of opportunity closes quickly.

Smith: Stay tuned to fb.org for updates. Chad Smith, Washington.

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