Next year could be the year that 2023 and 2024 were not: it might bring a new Farm Bill, rather than an extension of the previous one. Maybe?
The “lame duck session” of Congress (the period following the November elections and the start of January’s new session) should bring another extension of the agreement that originally expired in 2023. Some funding guaranteed by the existing extension runs out on December 20.
Cashing In – The futility of Congress to agree on a new Farm Bill has meant an extended Christmas bonus for lobbyists who can put in extra work with members of the U.S. house and senate (and their staff) to try to protect the interests of farmers, ranchers, producers, manufacturers, and other groups associated with agriculture, conservation, energy production, and food assistance.
Open Secrets, a non-profit organization that tracks campaign donations and spending, looked at records regarding lobbying related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP programs help to feed about one out of every eight Americans, which demonstrates how much of the country’s population struggles for affordable access to nutrition.
Congress’ unwillingness to agree on the terms on a new Farm Bill extended lobbying efforts regarding SNAP funding. The American Medical Association (AMA), AARP, Amazon, Walmart, Coca-Cola, and Pepsi have all prioritized lobbying about SNAP funding.
For AMA and AARP, the reasons could be primarily about the health of SNAP recipients. For Amazon, Walmart, Coca-Cola, and Pepsi, their focus is likely financial due to the billions of federal dollars that could be at stake in potential revenue for those private companies.
RELATED: Open Secrets lays out the lobbying data about Farm Bill discussions and what a Republican majority in Congress in 2025 could mean for SNAP funding. Find that report here.
Farm Bill Status – For Americans who are skeptical of Congress’ ability to come together…even when something crucial is at stake…they likely won’t be surprised that Republicans and Democrat remain split on the one-year extension for the Farm Bill.
Some key Republican leaders who are involved in the extension discussions want additional money in the package that would provide direct aid to farmers. They point to smaller family farmers across the country who struggle with low commodity prices and higher input, borrowing, and inflation costs.
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, the retiring Democrat from Michigan who leads the agricultural committee in her chamber, wanted to shift $10.7 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act into baseline funding for the Farm Bill extension.
Stabenow maintains that this could get money to farmers before the 2025 planting season begins. The Inflation Reduction Act was a signature legislative package of the Biden-Harris administration. Republicans don’t seem keen on using money from that legislation as part of the Farm Bill extension.
With December’s available days dwindling for Congress to come up with a belated agreement, it adds to the pressure for lawmakers to do their job before current funding ends next week.
