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The possibility of a government shutdown may hinder the timely passing of crucial federal legislation that aims to provide support to farmers and consumers. This delay raises concerns about the future of agriculture and nutrition programs in Texas.
The farm bill, a crucial package of legislation that is renewed every five years, is indispensable for financing various programs. These programs encompass essential support such as crop insurance and loans for farmers, as well as ensuring access to food for low-income families.
The traditional display of bipartisanship in Congress, meeting the Sept. 30 deadline to pass the bill, appears to be unachievable due to lawmakers’ focus on avoiding a government shutdown. Instead of enacting a new farm bill, Congress is anticipated to prolong the deadline and maintain the existing law for a period ranging from a few weeks to several months.
However, this temporary solution postpones crucial updates for the agriculture sector.
Chloe Kessock, spokesperson for Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, who serves on the House Agriculture Committee, explained that the purpose of the farm bill is to offer a sense of security to farmers who are operating in an increasingly uncertain environment with rising temperatures and more frequent droughts. The farm bill aims to compensate for this lack of stability. However, with a potential government shutdown looming, there is also a sense of insecurity in this space. Kessock questioned where farmers are supposed to find the much-needed stability in such circumstances.
Texas has by far the most acres of farmland in the country. But policies covered in the farm bill have broad implications beyond agriculture. Nutrition programs have to be reauthorized under the law, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which helped one in nine Texans in 2022 pay for groceries, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
Lawmakers from both parties are advocating for updates to the farm bill in response to various factors that have significantly altered the landscape since its passage in 2018. These factors include the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the evolving economy, all of which have resulted in increased farming costs.
Some lawmakers are placing a high emphasis this year on incorporating increased insurance coverage and support for farmers.
Patrick Creamer, GOP spokesperson for the Senate Agriculture Committee said that bolstering that so-called “farm safety net” was the top request of producers throughout a listening tour across the country by Sen. John Boozman, R-Arkansas, including an August stop in Amarillo with Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.
The bipartisan work that has historically gone into the farm bill has been complicated with heightened Congressional disagreements across party lines over federal spending and SNAP policy. This year wouldn’t be the first time legislators couldn’t decide on a farm bill. The 2018 bill was delayed past its deadline and the 2014 version took years of haggling before passage.
Laramie Adams, national legislative director for the Texas Farm Bureau, expressed optimism that a farm bill will be finalized by the conclusion of 2023 following discussions with agriculture committee leaders and the Texas Congressional delegation.
Adams stated, “Ideally, we would obtain a farm bill within this year. However, if that doesn’t happen, we should consider extending the current one. Our priority should not be merely on passing a farm bill for the sake of it, but rather on ensuring that it holds true significance for our agricultural sector.”
According to Adams, farmers and ranchers in Texas have been witnessing a steady increase in equipment and fuel costs, while the prices they receive for their products remain unchanged.
Adams stated that considering inflation and the need to adjust for it, it is crucial to focus on enhancing crop insurance. However, he acknowledged that accomplishing this goal is undoubtedly challenging.
Adams expressed his intention to utilize the additional time to persistently advocate for stronger crop insurance alongside fellow supporters. It is worth noting that crop insurance programs are already established by federal law, thus a farm bill extension would merely defer any additional assistance.
Farmers in Texas encounter distinctive hurdles beyond the scope of climate change and inflation.
Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Edinburg, has introduced legislation to tackle those issues after talking to farmers in her district. De La Cruz serves on the House Agriculture Committee and is hoping to weave legislation to address an overpopulation of feral pigs and cattle fever ticks into the new farm bill.
De La Cruz expressed his enthusiasm for the potential benefits a new farm bill could bring to the community, acknowledging that there is still a lot of work to be done. He reassured the farmers and ranchers of South Texas that they can rely on him to support them unconditionally.
It is not clear what the duration of an extension would be and when Texans would begin to experience the consequences of not having a farm bill.
Brandon Bradley, a legislative assistant for Crockett, assures that SNAP benefits will remain unaffected during a government shutdown.
An agreement was reached between Congress and the White House earlier this year to raise the federal debt limit, resulting in a reduction of SNAP benefits.
Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas, expressed that being part of that debate was an unfortunate decision.
Feeding Texas advocates initially advocated for increased investment in nutrition programs such as SNAP. While they continue to advocate for this funding, their current goal is simply to avoid any further cuts in the new farm bill.
Disclosure: Feeding Texas and Texas Farm Bureau have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
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