Lawmakers are poised to consider the 2018 Farm Bill this week, which would provide much-needed certainty for agriculture.
The farm bill conference committee agreement in principle sets the farm bill up for passage by the end of the year.
“Unfortunately, with the passing of President Bush, everything was kind of put on pause for folks to mourn here in Washington, but give a little more time for the committees and the Congressional Budget Office to hopefully wrap this farm bill up and an opportunity for the House and Senate to consider it (this) week,” Andrew Walmsley, American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) director of Congressional Relations, said.
Agricultural groups, including AFBF and Texas Farm Bureau, have been urging Congress to pass the farm bill for the stability it provides.
“You look at where conditions are in farm country, obviously still a lot of uncertainty with challenges with markets, challenges with Mother Nature, maybe a little bit of progress on the trade front over the past few days,” Walmsley said. “But it would be nice to have a little more certainty of a five-year farm bill.”
Farmers and ranchers can help push the farm bill across the finish line.
“It’s critical to be reaching out to your member of Congress, letting them know how important it is to get this farm bill done,” he said. “That average member of Congress needs that refresher that they’ve got a little bit of business to attend to before this lame-duck session ends, so let them know how important is for rural America to get this farm bill done this year.”
There is a big push to take over Texas, rivers, streams and creeks for public trails. It is very stressful for famers and ranchers because it gives access to their equipment ,animals and land to the public and puts us at great risk.
We, farmers and ranchers, need this farm bill.