The U.S. House Agriculture Committee passed its version of the 2024 farm bill, drawing a large response from stakeholders around the nation. With four Democrats joining Republicans, the $1.5 trillion bill, formally known as the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, advanced on a 33-21 vote.
Among the highlights of the House bill are the expansion of support for farm commodities and the reduction in SNAP funding. Probably the most contentious aspect, however, is that nearly $20 billion intended for so-called “climate-smart farm practices” is targeted for reallocation away the Inflation Reduction Act.
In a public statement Friday morning, the National Corn Growers Association said many of the recommendations made by corn grower leaders are reflected in the legislation and that the language in the bill would improve programs for corn growers across the country. Similarly, the National Association of Wheat Growers affirmed that many of its priorities are reflected in the House bill. These include emphasis on crop insurance and voluntary conservation cost-share programs for producers, as well as increase trade opportunities.
Nonetheless, during a press call earlier this week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack expressed “deep concerns” about the newest version, saying that the bill “overpromises” farmers, while trying to force a “crack in the coalition” that typically passes a farm bill.
Senate Agriculture Committee chair Debbie Stabenow agreed with Vilsack, saying in a statement, “Despite areas of common ground, it is now clear that key parts of the House bill split the Farm Bill coalition in a way that makes it impossible to achieve the votes to become law.”
The House Agriculture Committee posted to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, “As we traveled to every corner of the country we heard loud and clear the farm safety net needs to be strengthen. Our #FarmBill does just that.”
As we traveled to every corner of the country we heard loud and clear the farm safety net needs to be strengthen. Our #FarmBill does just that. pic.twitter.com/bMmciydZGa
— House Committee on Agriculture (@HouseAgGOP) May 23, 2024
House Agriculture Committee chair Glenn “GT” Thompson echoed that sentiment Thursday, when the panel went through the farm bill markup, saying that the bill “bolsters every aspect of American agriculture.”
“NAWG commends Chairman Thompson for moving the process forward and urges a bipartisan and bicameral process to enact a highly effective Farm Bill,” the wheat association said in a statement. “Ultimately, for a Farm Bill to get signed into law, it will have to pass both chambers and be bipartisan. We look forward to working with all stakeholders to help get a farm bill signed into law that provides certainty and a strong safety net for producers.”
During the markup, corn growers supported several amendments that were filed by committee members to improve the farm bill. NCGA President Harold Wolle said growers were appreciative of Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) for offering an amendment on sustainable aviation fuel that was adopted by the committee. He also credited Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) for offering an amendment requiring a mandatory base acre update that would better reflect corn growers priorities for commodity program eligibility.
Still, while modern American agriculture is certainly a focus of this legislation, the largest part of every farm bill is not as much directly related to farming itself but rather to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s food aid programs. This year, there is a major movement among House committee members to freeze the flagship Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which is likely to continue to yield the biggest blowback in future discussions.
“Speaking about the waste, fraud, abuse that absolutely exists in these programs — every single dollar that goes to waste, fraud, abuse for these SNAP programs is a dollar that cannot go to feed a hungry child,” said Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.).
The 2024 farm bill also included an EATS Act provision, which is part of an effort to counteract California’s Prop 12 and the restrictions that the measure puts on producers nationwide who want to sell their products in California. Prop 12 was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court amid lawsuits by the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Pork Producers Council, but the measure still draws large vocal opposition.
Critics of the EATS Act, particularly those affiliated with animal-rights organizations, repeatedly like to refer to it as a China-backed initiative, primarily because Smithfield Foods is a subsidiary of a Chinese-owned company.
“The leadership of the Agriculture Committee for months has kept repeating that it would present a bipartisan bill, but it included an EATS Act provision that did not have a single Democrat cosponsor in either the House or the Senate,” said Wayne Pacelle, the former head of the Humane Society of the U.S. He now serves as president of both Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy.
The 2018 farm bill expired last year, and Congress passed a one-year extension. The Democrat-led U.S. Senate has its own version of the farm bill.
