As of today, September 30, 2024, the Farm Bill, pivotal for American agriculture, has not been renewed, marking yet another failure by Congress to address the needs of the farming community in a timely manner. This inaction comes at a particularly dire moment for farmers, who are already grappling with some of the most challenging economic conditions in decades.
The Farm Bill, which usually sees renewal every five to six years, has been left to expire due to what can only be described as partisan gridlock. Despite the urgency for a comprehensive bill that could provide financial relief and stability, Congress has instead opted to accomplish nothing in the whole year that the Farm Bill was extended. Now Congress is on break to go campaign for the November 5 election. This has led to widespread concern among farmers, who are now facing the prospect of operating without the necessary legislative backing that supports their livelihoods and the broader food security of the nation.
This is a good summary if you want to know where the Farm Bill stands. Essentially nobody wants another stopgap funding as we’re already running on a 1 year extension and this also impacts food prices and food aid programs so they want it done in the lameduck *somehow* https://t.co/XpA16x3NSv
— Ben McAdams Memorial Acct (@purrtah) September 29, 2024
The frustration among farmers and agricultural advocates is palpable, especially when contrasted with the apparent ease with which Congress allocates funds for other, arguably less immediate, issues. For instance, significant financial commitments have been made towards initiatives like the Green New Deal, which, while aiming at environmental sustainability, has received criticism for potentially sidelining agricultural interests in favor of broader climate goals. Indeed, one of the prominent bones of contention is allocating funds toward “climate-smart” agriculture instead of economically-efficient agriculture that has been proven to feed the world.
The Farm Bill expired yet again today. @jake_bittle and I wrote about one of the sticking points in negotiations in Congress over passing a new one: whether to use billions of dollars in conservation funding on "climate-smart" agriculture practices. https://t.co/vIG1er7rMM
— Gautama Mehta (@mehta_gautama) September 30, 2024
Similarly, substantial sums continue to be directed towards international conflicts, such as the ongoing situations in Ukraine and Israel, highlighting a discrepancy in where the government prioritizes its spending. We can spend endless sums of money in foreign conflicts but cannot agree on support for American agriculture.
Agriculture's fly-in to Washington D.C. helped sound the alarm about the urgency for a new farm bill…. now. Support levels are at a 42-year low and growers are facing the prospect of enormous losses. #farmlosses #agribusinesshttps://t.co/ymgU1XAoQl
— Farm Press (@farmpress) September 27, 2024
The absence of a new Farm Bill isn’t just a bureaucratic oversight; it has real, tangible effects on the ground. Farmers are currently experiencing a support level at a 42-year low, with many facing the possibility of significant financial losses. This situation not only threatens individual farms but also impacts the broader agricultural market, food prices, and national food security. The lack of ad-hoc support from Congress over recent years exacerbates these issues, potentially leading to higher grocery prices and food scarcity.
@MillerForTexas @TXAgriculture stagnating farm bill process, a farm bill extension that is slated to provide virtually no help in 2024, and no ad hoc support from Congress over the last two years
Expect groceries to be higher and unavailable if this continues— BuffGeese (@BuffGeese) September 26, 2024
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented on the issue:
“We are running out of time. Farmers and ranchers were told lawmakers just needed more time to pass a five-year farm bill, but once again we find ourselves in a lurch without much-needed improvements to safety net and risk management programs. Meanwhile, America has lost 141,000 farms in five years. Low commodity prices, rising supply costs, inflation and outdated farm policy provisions threaten to destroy the dreams of thousands more.
We applaud House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson for crafting and moving a bipartisan farm bill through committee. And we appreciate Ranking Member David Scott’s commitment to achieving a full reauthorization of the farm bill instead of passing the buck with another extension. In the Senate, Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow and Ranking Member John Boozman have both released outlines and priorities.
All of this is forward progress. But America’s farmers and ranchers need results. Food doesn’t appear on grocery store shelves because farmers put ideas on paper. Families in this country can purchase safe, nutritious and affordable food because farmers and ranchers take action every day of the year.
Actions speak louder than words. I urge members of Congress and party leaders to put politics aside and pass a new, modernized farm bill. Show every family in America that ensuring a full pantry is the priority of those we elected to serve.”
Public discourse reflects a growing discontent over this neglect. Agricultural interest groups have been vocal about the need for immediate legislative action, warning that without a comprehensive Farm Bill, the agricultural sector could face a crisis. There’s a call for Congress to recognize agriculture not just as an economic sector but as fundamental to national security, given the unprecedented food trade deficit the US is currently experiencing.
If Congress decides not to act – and absent a major rebound in the agricultural markets – many of our nation’s producers will enter the New Year in arguably some of the most challenging financial circumstances they’ve faced in decades.#FarmBill
https://t.co/WiF5rUWzmn— Farm Progress Daily (@farmdaily) September 27, 2024
The expiration of the Farm Bill extension without a new bill in place underscores a troubling trend where partisan politics seems to overshadow the critical needs of American farmers. While there’s ample willingness to fund global initiatives and conflicts, the heartland of America, its farmers, are left waiting, hanging in economic uncertainty. This scenario not only highlights the priorities of legislative spending but also demonstrates the need for a more balanced approach where domestic agricultural stability is not sacrificed for other agendas. As the situation stands, farmers and advocates are left hoping for a swift resolution in the upcoming lame-duck session, but the clock is ticking, and the fields won’t wait.