The “big four” negotiators set a new target of mid-November to wrap up work on the 2018 farm bill during a half-hour meeting on Thursday, quashing partisan squabbling. In a physical show of solidarity, the Senate and House negotiators linked arms and told reporters they were making a determined effort on the $87 billion a year legislation.
“We will work it out,” said Senate Agriculture chairman Pat Roberts, who is in charge of the negotiations. House Agriculture Committee chairman Michael Conaway, who accused Senate negotiators last week of being weak-willed, said the group was putting in a lot of hard work. “There are differences but we can work through them. This is how we get a farm bill done,” said Sen. Debbie Stabenow, the senior Democrat on Senate Ag. “Amen,” agreed Rep. Collin Peterson, her counterpart on House Agriculture.
The lawmakers said they were very close to agreement on the energy, credit and trade sections of the bill. Great differences remain on farm subsidies and SNAP, as well as other parts of the panoramic farm bill, which ranges from international food aid to ag research and rural economic development.
The first chance for action on the final version of the farm bill will come in mid-November when Congress convenes for the lame duck session. “We want to have a farm bill ready” for a vote then, said Roberts. The House recessed last week so members could campaign for re-election. The Senate is expected to shut down soon as well for campaigning.