Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Tuesday that Congress will deliver a new farm bill, but not likely before September. McConnell told the Kentucky Farm Bureau that Congress is running out of working days on the legislative calendar before the current law expires on September 30.
McConnell is one of the highest-ranking members of Congress to admit that the timeline for a new farm bill is shifting past September. When asked about reauthorizing the five-year farm bill, McConnell said, "We'll figure it out."
The current farm bill expires on September 30. If Congress cannot pass a new farm bill by then, some American farm policies will revert to 1940s-era controls on production and costly price supports.
It is now likely that Congress will pass a one-year extension of the current farm bill. This would give Congress more time to negotiate a longer-term farm bill in 2024, which is a presidential election year.
The delay in passing a new farm bill is a setback for farmers and ranchers, who are facing several challenges, including rising input costs and declining crop prices. However, McConnell's assurance that Congress will eventually pass a farm bill is a positive sign for the agricultural community.
Categories: Kentucky, Government & Policy