Farm Bill May End Up in Lame-Duck Session

Federal lawmakers are expected to pass spending bills which would include a farm bill, and with only six and a half months remaining until the fiscal year ends in September. There's urgency to move forward. According to National Milk Producers Federation, Senior Vice President of Member Services and Governance, Chris Galan. However, he foresees another farm bill extension.

“All the struggles they've had with trying to pass these spending bills, which hopefully we're going to be done with here in the next week or two means that the prospects of passing a new farm bill remain something that kind of recedes like an oasis. The closer you get to it, they were hoping to pass a new farm bill last year didn't happen and they kick the can down the road into 2024. I suspect we will end up in a similar situation here at the end of the summer this year, that with the elections looming, there's not going to be a new Farm Bill will get yet another extension into 2025.”

Galen says there is a possibility that the farm bill would be included in a lame-duck session.

“Which is where they come together after the election before the end of the year to wrap up on unfinished business. And (usually) usually that has to do with spending bills. But it's possible maybe that the farm bill could be a lame duck item if they've done most of the work on it and they decided just to finish it up and get it done.”

Once again, Senior Vice President of Member Services and Governance with the National Milk Producers Federation, Chris Galen.