Five-year farm bill goes to six with extension

WASHINGTON — Congress passed a continuing resolution to extend the 2018 farm bill until Sept. 30, 2024.

The extension was bundled with a continuing resolution to fund the federal government through early 2024.

The continuing resolution passed in the Senate by an 87-11 margin, a 336-95 vote in the House and was signed by President Joe Biden.

The 2018 farm bill expired on Sept. 30. If a new farm bill or extension had not been enacted by Dec. 31 when the crop subsidy and dairy support programs expired, the law would revert back to how it was written in the 1940s.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said at a recent visit to a farm near Herscher, Illinois, if the farm bill wasn’t extended by Dec. 31, “a lot of the farm programs will revert back to what is called permanent law. You would have a very unusual circumstance that if a farmer had been fortunate enough to have acres allotted for wheat production, for example, in the 1940s, he or she would continue to get support. But if you’re a recent wheat producer, you wouldn’t get any support at all. It would be chaotic.”

Farm group representatives were grateful for the one-year extension, but agree a permanent bill is needed sooner than later. Here’s what they had to say about the farm bill extension.

“Illinois corn farmers need certainty and knowing that we have a one-year extension on the 2018 farm bill provides some certainty as we plan for the next crop year. However, while we are grateful for some direction, extensions like these cannot be the only direction farmers are given. We must work together to pass a new farm bill in 2024 that fully funds programs and gives farmers the long-term certainty that they need and deserve.”

Matt Rush, president

Illinois Corn Growers Association

“Indiana Farm Bureau is grateful Congress included a one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill in their most recent continuing resolution to fund the federal government. The farm bill affects every American by helping to ensure a safe, reliable and affordable food supply. Much has changed since the 2018 programs were funded, but, thankfully, the agriculture committees in both the House and Senate have done some great work to address those changes. INFB looks forward to continuing that momentum with legislators to quickly pass a new farm bill that benefits farmers and our rural communities.”

Randy Kron, president

Indiana Farm Bureau

“Growers are already making decisions for the 2024 crop year based on markets, growing conditions and risk calculations. This extension provides us with much needed certainty around the commodity title and other important USDA programs. But we continue to advocate for a full reauthorization of the farm bill as soon as possible.”

Harold Wolle, president

National Corn Growers Association

“We’re pleased to see an extension that fully funds key ‘orphan’ programs that help farmers access higher-value organic markets and expand access to agricultural education. While the extension offers a degree of stability and much-needed breathing room, we’ll soon be more than five years removed from the passage of the 2018 farm bill. The intervening years have been among the most tumultuous in our nation’s history as an increasingly disruptive and changing climate, the COVID-19 pandemic and societal impacts, and a long-overdue racial justice reckoning conspired to thoroughly unveil the fragility of our current food system. Farmers, ranchers and food system stakeholders deserve updated federal policy that levels the playing field, invests in a climate resilient future and advances racial equity.”

Mike Lavender, policy director

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

“NFU is encouraged by the strong bipartisan support for an extension of the 2018 farm bill. Now we urge Congress to channel that success toward getting a new farm bill done in a timely fashion. Family farmers and ranchers must have clarity about the status of farm programs to make informed planting and business decisions heading into the next growing season, and an extension accomplishes that in the short term. We will continue working to craft and pass a five-year farm bill that provides strong support for family farmers, ranchers and our communities.”

Rob Larew, president

National Farmers Union

“The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is thankful for Congress passing legislation extending critical programs that farmers and ranchers across the country depend on. These extensions give much needed certainty to cattle producers and NCBA will continue engaging with Congress and the Biden administration as they work to deliver a long-term farm bill, as well as a clean reauthorization of livestock mandatory reporting.”

Todd Wilkinson, president

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association