December 10, 2013. With Congress scheduled to start their December recess on Friday, it is unlikely that a New Farm Bill be approved before year end. Even if a deal is reached, it is unlikely that the Farm Bill would come before Congress before the calendar rolls into the New Year.
Both the Senate (S. 954) and House (H.R. 2642) have passed their respective version of the Farm Bill. However, the two versions have substantial differences that are unlikely to be resolved before the December recess. Most notably, the two chambers have been unable to reach a consensus on the provisions regarding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP – Food Stamps).
The showdown over the SNAP provisions revolves around the fact that the House version is demanding a $4 billion cut from SNAP payments, while allowing states to attach work requirements to the benefit. Senate Democrats, backed by President Obama, have offered a far more modest $400 million cut, with no new work requirements.
The uncertainty regarding the passage of a new Farm Bill is creating issues for farmers looking to plan for 2014. Purdue University associate professor of agricultural economics, Roman Keeney, states that "[w]ith the 2013 crop just harvested being the last that is subject to the 2008 law, farmers are left making plans for their 2014 crops with uncertainty about the rules and regulations that will govern the farm commodity system."
Additional points of contention between the two versions of the bill focus on crop insurance, the replacement mechanism for direct payments, and commodity priority issues. The passage of a new and extended Farm Bill is critical to the continued success of the agricultural economy; continue to monitor Ag Lawyer on your Side blog for additional updates concerning the passage of this crucial piece of legislation. You can also contact Goosmann Law at info@goosmannlaw.com or by calling 712.226.4000.
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