Last week, the Senate Ag Committee held a closed-door member meeting and discussed the Farm Bill. Afterward, the staff for committee members met. Key subject areas reportedly included SNAP federal-state cost share, Proposition 12, pesticides, economic/disaster assistance, and year-round E-15. There are disagreements over these issues. Senate Ag Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) wants a bipartisan bill and is signaling his intent to release a discussion draft possibly the first week of June. Markup could follow sometime during that month.
This action follows U.S. House passage of a Farm Bill on April 30, by a vote of 224 to 200, with 209 Republicans, 14 Democrats, and one independent voting in support. NDGGA worked closely with Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak, who successfully secured passage of her amendment, directing the Secretary of Agriculture to study the feasibility of providing storage facility loans to producers for on-farm fertilizer storage. The amendment originally called for a loan program; however, concerns were raised over potential costs. NDGGA is working with the Senate on an amendment that would establish the loan program. We are grateful to Congresswoman Fedorchak and her staff for their work on the amendment, and to Senate Committee staff and members who have an interest in establishing a new loan program. Much emphasis has been placed on fertilizer costs and ways to help farmers manage this important input. Increasing storage on the farm would relieve strain on the system.
Meanwhile, NDGGA has signed letters to advance policy objectives working with and through other agriculture organizations. The Association recently added its name to a letter to U.S. House leadership in support of advancing the House Farm Bill. NDGGA also co-signed a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin in support of a safe, science-based pesticide review process. It is also working to have the Prevented Planting five percent buyup reinstated by USDA for the 2027 Crop Year.
Last month, I had the chance to visit with USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins immediately after her appearance before the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture chaired by Senator John Hoeven. The Secretary answered questions on ag disaster assistance, fertilizer prices, research funding, SNAP, new world screwworm, and USDA reorganization. Rollins notably voiced backing for additional agricultural disaster aid, currently under consideration in the Senate.
Aid for agricultural disasters could total $15 billion to $17 billion and would need a separate legislative vehicle to succeed. Identifying the means and whether rules and political support will enable an attachment will be the key factor. Among those potential vehicles are the Farm Bill or a broader disaster assistance package.