Senate Ag Committee advances farm bill

On September 16, the Senate Agriculture Committee was able to advance the farm bill out of committee with a 12–11 party line vote. The bill was initially debated and amended on August 6 but failed to gainer enough votes to advance out of committee. When the Senate returned from recess this week, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who had been absent at the August markup due to health complications, was in attendance and able to cast the deciding vote in favor of the bill. No additional amendments were debated or voted on, but a manger’s amendment package that was approved at the August markup included $200 million for the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR). Leading up to the markup, Society members were encouraged to urge their Senators to include FFAR funding, representing a major advocacy win for ASA, CSSA, and SSSA.

Next, the Senate farm bill should come to the Senate floor for a vote by the full chamber, but partisan disagreements over nutrition assistance and a consolidated congressional calendar before the midterm election make a floor vote unlikely. The House and Senate Agriculture Committees can start "pre-conferencing" a final compromise version, but the final action won't come until after the midterm election during the lame duck Congress. Look for future advocacy alerts urging that FFAR funding be included in the final bill.