Farm Bill

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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.

Elon Musk’s full-throated opposition to a massive stopgap funding bill forced House GOP leaders to rethink the legislation, leaving in doubt $31 billion in disaster aid and market relief for farmers.  President-elect Donald Trump left the door open to supporting a stripped-down bill with farm aid included. 

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.

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.