2024 farm bill in works

WASHINGTON — House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson announced work on the 2024 farm bill, which includes bipartisan policies and several titles affecting farmers.

“This bill is a product of an extensive and transparent process, which included soliciting feedback from members of both political parties, stakeholder input from across the nation and some tough conversations,” the Pennsylvania representative said.

“Each title of this farm bill reflects a commitment to the American farmer and viable pathways to funding those commitments and is equally responsive to the politics of the 118th Congress.”

The committee was scheduled to mark up the bill on May 23, Thompson said. He is hoping for unanimous support, the Republican said.

National Association of State Departments of Agriculture CEO Ted McKinney commended Thompson for moving the bill forward.

“With the release of the legislative text, NASDA remains committed to advocating for a bipartisan farm bill that will secure a commitment to American agriculture and the critical food and nutritional assistance programs for those who need it most,” McKinney said.

“Signing a farm bill into law is vital to the food and agriculture sector which benefits our economy, accounting for roughly one-fifth of U.S. economic activity and supporting nearly 23 million jobs.

“We welcome the opportunity to work with the House Agriculture Committee as they begin debating the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2024.”

Thompson shared a title-by-title overview of the bipartisan policies and priorities he hopes are included in the 2024 farm bill.

Title I: Commodities

“Aids farmers in managing risk and provides assistance following precipitous declines in commodity prices. Through the reauthorization and enhancement of commodity, marketing loan, sugar, dairy and disaster programs, producers are provided some certainty in times of unpredictability.”

Title II: Conservation

“Provides farmers, ranchers and growers with financial and technical assistance to address a variety of natural resource concerns such as soil health and erosion, water quality and quantity, and wildlife habitat. The 2024 farm bill continues to support our proven system of voluntary, incentive-based and locally led conservation through various improvements.”

Title III: Trade

“Agriculture is the backbone to most of the world’s economies, and robust promotion programs not only create market access, but protect our agricultural interests and act as a catalyst for innovation and economic growth. By expanding the reach and impact of the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development program, the 2024 farm bill will mitigate global food insecurity while providing U.S. producers new markets, improving local economies and lessening the damage of this Administration’s ineffective trade agenda.”

Title IV: Nutrition

“Supports access to families formerly disallowed to receive benefits, refocuses work programs to support upward mobility, invests in and modernizes food distribution programs to create parity with urban programming, promotes program integrity and state accountability and advances policies related to healthy eating, healthy behaviors and healthy outcomes.”

Title V: Credit

“Our nation’s producers borrow more capital in a single harvest season than most Americans do in their entire lives. Interest rates have exploded under the Biden administration, resulting in skyrocketing borrowing costs which fall especially hard on our nation’s younger, less established producers. Programs within the credit title are instrumental in helping producers both start and maintain their operations.”

Title VI: Rural Development

“Programs offered by the USDA’s Rural Development play a vital role in enhancing rural life and fostering economic growth. The 2024 farm bill continues the long history of bipartisan support for rural development initiatives and implements important improvements to ensure a robust rural economy.”

Title VII: Research, Extension and Related Matters

“Keeps American agriculture at the forefront of innovation and productivity through cutting-edge research and supports the nation’s land-grant and non-land-grant colleges of agriculture.”

Title VIII: Forestry

“Promotes active forest management through incentivizing public-private partnerships creating new market opportunities and revitalizing rural communities while reducing wildfire risk and improving forest health to ensure healthy and productive federal, state, tribal and private forests.”

Title IX: Energy

“Increases access to energy system and efficiency updates for farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses while encouraging growth and innovation for biofuels, bioproducts and related feedstocks.”

Title X: Horticulture, Marketing and Regulatory Reform

“Critical investments to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops and protect plant health. Delivers commonsense regulatory reforms necessary to relieve American farmers and ranchers from overregulation by the Biden administration.”

Title XI: Crop Insurance

“Agricultural producers are greatly affected by numerous factors outside of their control, ranging from extreme weather to geopolitical instability. Crop insurance — a vital risk management tool — is available to help producers manage the unique risks of farming and is delivered through an effective public-private partnership in which the federal government shares in the cost of the premiums, which would otherwise be unaffordable for most farmers.”

Title XII: Miscellaneous

“Brings together provisions related to livestock health and management, foreign animal disease preparedness, young and beginning farmers, and other key areas. Directs additional resources towards the three-legged stool to protect the entire livestock and poultry industry in the U.S. from foreign animal diseases.”

Learn more about the 2024 farm bill at agriculture.house.gov/farmbill/.