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Shining Light on Farm & Food Policy for 20 Years.
Thursday, March 06, 2025
After a week of high drama, the Senate cleared a stopgap spending bill early Saturday that includes $21 billion in ag disaster assistance, $10 billion in market relief for farmers, and a one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill. Dropped from the bill was a debt limit increase that President-elect Donald Trump had demanded.
A partial government shutdown loomed closer Thursday night after the House soundly defeated a scaled-down stopgap spending bill that included a debt-limit increase President-elect Donald Trump demanded, plus economic assistance for farmers.
The future of $31 billion in disaster relief and economic assistance for farmers was in doubt night after Elon Musk and then, Donald Trump, threatened the political future of any Republicans who voted for the 1,500-page bill that contains the funding. The Senate cleared a water resources bill intended to increase funding for inland waterway projects.
A year-end stopgap spending bill released Tuesday would authorize year-round sales of E-15, while also returning biofuel credits to some small refineries that applied for but were not granted exemptions in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Congressional leaders were nailing down the final details of a stopgap spending bill Monday night that was expected to include $10 billion in economic assistance for farmers, as well as a one-year farm bill extension, sources tell Agri-Pulse.
On to New Hampshire. Former President Donald Trump was the runaway winner of the Iowa Republican caucuses yesterday evening, demonstrating he maintains a strong hold on Republicans in that state and in rural areas particularly.
The Department of Agriculture is seeking over $1 billion through the appropriations process to avoid risking the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) benefits of 2 million mothers and children.
Lawmakers announce a deal with the White House on topline spending levels for fiscal 2024, clearing the way for appropriators to finalize budget details for USDA and other departments and agencies.
A stopgap spending bill released by House Republicans Saturday includes a one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill and funding for some relatively small programs that expired on Sept. 30.
House Republicans remain unable to agree on a continuing resolution to keep the government funded in October. Meanwhile, senators left town Thursday still unable to get agreement on bringing up a three-bill spending package that includes its version of the USDA-FDA bill.
