Farm Bill

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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.

Over the weekend, farm groups quickly mobilized to demand congressional leaders end a partisan impasse and reach a deal on a package of economic assistance to include in year-end legislation.

House GOP leaders were facing heavy pressure from farm groups and their allies in Congress on Sunday to add economic assistance for row crop producers to a year-end stopgap spending bill. House Democrats will pick a ranking member for the House Agriculture Committee on Monday.

A wide range of commodity groups demanded Saturday that lawmakers oppose a stopgap spending bill unless it includes economic assistance for farmers. The demands raise the stakes for congressional leaders.

Negotiations over a package of market relief assistance for farmers reached an impasse Saturday after Democratic leaders rejected the latest GOP proposal, and several major farm groups called on lawmakers to oppose a stopgap spending bill if the economic aid is omitted.

The road to re-election as the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee looks unclear for Georgia Rep. David Scott, as many members of the panel indicate their support for other candidates. 

Democrats on the House and Senate Agriculture committees are proposing $10 billion in market relief for farmers as the parties spar over an extension of the 2018 farm bill, Agri-Pulse has learned. House GOP leaders, however, have so far objected to the method used to cover the cost of the farm payments. 

Congressional leaders could finalize a stopgap spending bill this week that will likely include another one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill, but may lack a package of disaster aid and market relief for farmers.

Year after year of drought and intense heat that have cooked crops in Texas also have fueled a clash between USDA and the crop insurance industry that has spilled over into discussions of a new farm bill.

Lawmakers return this week for the remainder of their lame duck session, facing a to-do list that includes passing a farm bill extension and averting a government shutdown. Also, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy head to Capitol Hill, and a Senate committee puts a focus on FDA and its role in combatting obesity..