We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Privacy Terms and Cookie Policy
Balanced Reporting. Trusted Insights.
Saturday, April 05, 2025
Farmers going through difficult times financially would have fewer options for assistance if House Republicans’ spending plan for fiscal 2024 were to become law.
Fresh off last week's debt ceiling bill and this week's extensive hearing on federal nutrition programs, discussion around the future of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is at the top of the agenda for many in farm policy.
Congressional approval of the debt ceiling agreement between President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has triggered a new debate about the impact of the changes made to SNAP work requirements, with Republicans insisting they take another crack at the issue during the upcoming farm bill.
The GOP-controlled House overwhelmingly passed bipartisan legislation Wednesday evening to avert a first-ever government default, impose caps on federal spending and make the first major changes to SNAP work requirements in decades.
Leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture committees say the debt limit agreement should remove SNAP work requirements as a potential sticking point in the upcoming farm bill debate, but also said the deal takes away some potential funding.
Dan Glickman, the Secretary of Agriculture during the major crop insurance overhaul in 2000, said crop insurance should be the preferred method of risk management rather than a permanent disaster program.
President Joe Biden is expected to sit down again early this week with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other congressional leaders as they continue negotiations on increasing the debt ceiling and GOP demands for spending cuts.
Leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture committees met for more than an hour at the White House Thursday evening with President Joe Biden and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to discuss enacting a new farm bill.
The top Democrat on the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee is defending Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack's usage of the Commodity Credit Corp. account and says Congress should "absolutely not" impose new restrictions.
