After House Passes Farm Bill, Attention Turns to Senate

Calling the House’s passage of the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R. 2) a big win for agriculture, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said farmers and ranchers are looking forward to Senate action on its version of the farm bill.

“By approving the 2018 farm bill today, members of the House recognized the serious economic challenges facing farmers and ranchers across the country,” Duvall said.

He noted that the measure, crafted by Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-Texas), maintained programs that were working well, but also made improvements in risk management and crop insurance programs, much-needed at a time when farm-income levels have slumped to decade lows.

The Senate is expected to take up its version of the farm bill, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (S. 3042), as early as next week.

“We look forward to continuing our work with Senate Agriculture Committee leaders Roberts and Stabenow as they move forward. The Senate bill also addresses the challenges our farmers and ranchers are facing today,” Duvall said.

After the Senate farm bill is passed, House and Senate negotiators will come together to iron out the differences between the measures. Once both the House and Senate have signed off on the finalized legislation, it will be sent to President Trump for his signature.

One of the biggest discrepancies between the bills relates to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The House bill would require adults aged 18-59 who participate in SNAP to find at least a part-time job within one month of receiving benefits beginning in 2021. The Senate bill does not contain similar language.