Farm bill negotiators are expected to acknowledge today that they will miss the only deadline they have set for themselves: Enactment of the 2018 farm bill by the end of September, now four days away. The “big four” leaders of the talks, who have been loath to discuss a Plan B in hopes of a last-minute miracle of consensus, will meet face to face to discuss the path to farm bill passage.
Weeks of work have failed to resolve fundamental differences over SNAP work requirements, land stewardship programs, and farm subsidy rules. “To ensure the continued success of America’s food system, it is crucial to pass a new farm bill as soon as possible,” said the National Farmers Union, after noting negotiations were at an impasse.
The 2014 farm law expires on Sunday, meaning a shutdown of export promotion and international food aid programs and limbo for many conservation programs. Food stamps and crop insurance would stay in operation and this year’s crops would be covered by subsidy programs.
So far, the Senate and House Agriculture chairmen and the senior Democrats on the committee have acted as if it would jinx their work, or reduce the impetus for agreement, if they discuss aloud their next step, whether it is letting the 2014 law lapse briefly while wrapping up the farm bill or seeking an extension of current law. An aide to Senate Agriculture chairman Pat Roberts said there probably would be a statement after this week’s meeting of the “big four”: Roberts, House Agriculture chairman Michael Conaway, Sen. Debbie Stabenow and Rep. Collin Peterson.
“There’s still time on the clock,” said Conaway on “Agribusiness Report” at the start of the week. “I’m not talking to folks about extensions at this point.” An advocate of stricter work requirements for food stamps, Conaway said there was agreement on only two of the 11 sections of the bill. Public nutrition, farm supports, and land stewardship were among the unresolved issues.
A Peterson aide said there was no reason to talk about an extension because major programs will run for months. ‘We’re still meeting and pushing to close out titles so we can get this done, even if that happens after September 30,” he said.
Food and agriculture policy is becoming more and more partisan, said Monica Mills, executive director of Food Policy Action, a group organized by food-movement leaders. “What really matters right now is which party you belong to,” said Mills in releasing the group’s guide for voters, called “An Eater’s Guide to Congress.”
On the farm bill, Democrats uniformly got high ratings and Republicans mostly rated poorly because the GOP-written House farm bill would carry out Conaway’s proposal to require an estimated 7 million “work capable” adults aged 18 to 59 to work at least 20 hours a week or spend equivalent time in job training or workfare. States would divide $1 billion a year for training programs for an expected 3 million people. The Senate rejected a similar proposal by a 2-to-1 margin.
Pollster Celinda Lake said that for women, millennials and minority group members, access to healthy and affordable food “is a strong issue in both mobilization and persuasion (of voters) for candidates of both parties.” Food does rank as highly with voters as the economy or health care but it is an issue that can help define a candidate’s character, which is a major factor in how voters decide who to support. “It’s not just a persuasion issue. It’s a way to get your base out.”
For “An Eater’s Guide to Congress, click here.