A Farm Bill Extension May Be On the Horizon

A short-term extension of the 2023 farm bill may be required, according to lawmakers on the House and Senate ag committees. Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee Debbie Stabenow said an extension wouldn’t be a surprise, as it has happened with previous farm bills. The drafting process has been behind schedule since the start, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, says House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson.

The discussions surrounding the federal debt ceiling also involved changes to a food assistance program authorized in the farm bill, leading to further delays. However, Thompson says he aims to have a draft bill ready for markup by the House in September when the original deadline was scheduled.

Read more on farm bill progress and delays here.