U.S. Farm Bill delay may benefit Canadian farmers

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Four Democratic Party members voted late last month with Republicans for their 2024 version of the U.S. Farm Bill.

When they did that, House of Representatives Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn Thompson declared the yea-voting Dems had “seen through the hyperbolic, partisan rhetoric” of current U.S. politics. Likely, he doesn’t think that now. House Democrats, including those who endorsed Thompson’s bill, have ruled out further support, judging by a statement from ranking member David Scott, the committee’s leading Democrat.

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“This bill may have advanced out of committee, but it has no future,” Scott said soon afterward. “It does not have the Democratic support necessary to be brought to the House Floor. It will not become law,” Scott said.

Likewise, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow of Michigan has expressed concern that House Republican proposals for changes to food aid will “split the broad bipartisan coalition that has always been the foundation of a successful Farm Bill.” It’s beginning to sound like a standoff.

It’s true that Thompson’s $1.7 billion, 900-plus-page Farm Food and National Security Act of 2024 passed from the committee’s drafting process by a vote of 33 to 21 during a beyond midnight session with four “yea” voting Democrats.

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In his statement at the time, Thompson, a Pennsylvania Republican, praised those Democrat supporters and declared himself “eager to continue on work with whomever comes to the table” to help move the law through Congress. He must be feeling the pressure for reauthorization. So many aspects of public policy flow from Congress to rural America through its regularly-enacted, umbrella legislation known as the U.S. Farm Bill.

It’s already a year overdue. Without this legislation much about America’s complex system of agricultural subsidies for farmers and food aid for needy families would end. Which is not to say Congress will allow it all to lapse.

Faced with the legislative disorders of a year ago, House and Senate members simply authorized continuation of the existing, 2018 law until September of this year. And that’s exactly what some observers say will have to happen again, considering the rising heat of pending U.S. elections.

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From the perspective of Canadian agriculture, such a delay may have benefits. U.S. proposals include enhancements to U.S. farm subsidies at a time when international commodity prices have declined amid apprehension about international trade.

The House proposal includes increased reference prices for long-standing Price Loss Coverage and Agricultural Risk Coverage programs. The House has also proposed to double current spending to promote foreign market access, presumably in international markets where Canadian farmers also compete.

Congressional Republicans and Democrats have struggled to maintain the collegial atmosphere that is traditional in deliberations of agriculture committees in both the House and Senate. There seems to be general agreement about the need for increased farm spending but a fundamental split between Republicans and Democrats over nutritional assistance for low-income Americans, long a complicating factor in U.S. farm policy.

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Certainly, it remains an issue for Rep. Yadira Caraveo of Colorado, one of the four Democrats who voted with Thompson to refer the bill to the full House for consideration. Although Caraveo voted to advance the bill, she also issued a statement to say she remains “deeply concerned about cuts to nutrition programs” that may result without further adjustment. Likewise, a statement from yea-voting Democrat Don Davis of North Carolina said he hopes the House bill is the “beginning of bipartisan legislation that will protect producers of food and food insecure families.” Davis predicted “much more work ahead.”

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