With the House and Senate set to return early next week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) does not plan to implement permanent law with expectations of a farm bill completed over the next few weeks.
According to DTN/Progressive Farmer, the House and Senate farm bill conferees could schedule a meeting later next week to vote on some key issues the principal negotiators have not been able to resolve in private talks.
“So at this point in time, our focus is on providing technical assistance, ideas and creative thought so whatever differences exist between the House and Senate can be resolved quickly and when they get back in a week or so they can finish up the conference report, have the conference committee vote on whatever issues divide them and present a conference report and hopefully get it passed,” U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said.
If an agreement isn’t reached, Vilsack said the USDA would take the necessary steps to trigger permanent law, but he is confident that won’t happen.