Updates to the Farm Bill have moved through the US House Agriculture Committee, but the package as currently written has little chance of replacing the current Farm Bill.
The 10-year, $1.5 trillion bill was approved 33-21, with all Republicans and four Democrats in favor. It would bolster farm safety net payments for certain crops, increase funding for specialty crops and expand disaster assistance eligibility, and it has support from farm commodity groups. However, because it has to stay revenue-neutral, it trims benefits to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly called SNAP or food stamps, so hunger advocacy groups are opposed. Fiscal conservatives are also opposed due to the cost.
The current Farm Bill ended last fall, although most programs have been extended while the full bill is revised. The current extension ends in September unless it’s extended again or an updated bill is passed.
