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Farm groups have a lot to cheer in the massive year-end funding bill that congressional leaders finally released Tuesday evening. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson wants to take up a new farm bill early in 2025, and he says he's encouraging farm groups to "relax" about RFK Jr.

Congressional leaders unveiled a massive year-end bill Tuesday evening that would provide $10 billion in economic assistance for farmers, plus a one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill and a provision allowing year-around use of E15.

Washington Rep. Dan Newhouse, a member of the Appropriations Committee, and five newly elected Republicans will join the House Agriculture Committee in January to fill seats vacated by committee departures on the GOP side.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, is on Capitol Hill this week and reassured one key senator that he has an appreciation for U.S. agriculture. 

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.

Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig was elected Tuesday as the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, giving her the responsibility of leading her party on farm policy in a new Congress controlled by Republicans who may try to slash spending and roll back the Biden administration's climate agenda. 

The House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee voted Monday to recommend Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig to take over as ranking member of the Agriculture Committee in 2025, unseating the party’s current leader, David Scott.

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.