We’ve got a farm bill extension—now what? 

A stopgap government funding bill that includes a one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill easily passed the House by a 336-to-95 vote with 209 Democrats joining 127 Republicans in support. Shortly after, Senators also overwhelmingly supported the package with an 87-to-11 vote.  

“This is kind of nice, because our members on both sides of the aisle are going to be able to go home and give thanks that we got a farm bill extension,” House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-PA, told Agri-Pulse after the House vote. “A lot of farm families are going to give thanks that we got a farm bill extension. But there’s also the expectation that we’re going to keep working.” 

The measure would extend funding for some departments and agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to Jan. 19 at fiscal 2023 levels. Most departments and agencies would be funded until Feb. 2. Without passage, lawmakers would have forced a government shutdown.  

House GOP leaders believe the “laddered” Continuing Resolution will keep pressure on Congress into next year to enact individual appropriations bills rather than passing a massive year-end omnibus bill in December. While Democrats welcomed the fact that the CR doesn’t force immediate cuts in spending, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson insists that the federal debt still must be addressed.  

If Congress cannot complete its fiscal year 2024 funding bills by the end of April, lawmakers will see 1% spending cuts across the board in federal programs. 

A few GOP hardliners complained about including the farm bill extension, saying that would delay needed reforms, but the Democratic leadership formally endorsed the CR shortly before the vote.  

“We’re not surrendering, we’re fighting. But you have to be wise about choosing the fights. You have to fight fights that you can win, and we’re going to,” said Johnson, R-LA. 

The extension effectively gives lawmakers lots of additional time to pass a farm bill, but leaders of the House and Senate Ag committees insist they are committed to passing a bill as soon as possible. 

Senate Ag Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-MI, told reporters she would like to see the bill completed by the summer but suggested the ongoing uncertainty about the length of the fiscal 2024 appropriations process could affect the schedule. 

“I’m very anxious to get it done and have the staff in place and the capacity to get this done,” Stabenow said of the farm bill. 

Stabenow said farm groups need to convey a sense of urgency to Congress about the farm bill. 

“What I hope will happen is that we’re going to be hearing from all parts of the agricultural community … that they want us to sit down and get this done,” she said. 

The top Republican on the committee, Arkansas Sen. John Boozman, said the extension provides certainty to farmers and bankers about commodity programs for 2024 crops. 

“I don’t think it does anything to diminish us going forward and getting a farm bill done as quickly as possible,” Boozman told reporters. 

But in many respects, the farm bill fight seems destined to intensify. The year-long extension could effectively give lawmakers until January 2025 to finish a new bill. That’s when the expiration of the extension could trigger laws dating back to 1938 and 1949 that would force USDA to take steps next year to dramatically raise the price of milk, wheat and other commodities.  

To avoid that scenario, lawmakers must make significant progress on a new bill in the first half of 2024. After the midway point of the calendar, the House and Senate are scheduled to mostly be out of session except for a few weeks between the Republican National Convention in July and the November elections.  

Because of the political calendar, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-IA, says July is the effective deadline for Congress to get a new bill done.  

“If there’s a will to get a farm bill done anywhere through July I think it will get done. If there’s not a will to get done, it’ll be extended for one year … and then the new Congress starts over again,” he told reporters. 

Editor’s note: Sara Wyant is publisher of Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc., www.Agri-Pulse.