Progress on this year’s Farm Bill has been slow as division in Washington prevents action on most matters and lawmakers have shifted their attention to elections.
Berrien County Farm Bureau President Edward Kretchman tells us there hasn’t been much action in Washington and the final Farm Bill is still in its infancy. He says the extensive package does need to be finished, but there’s been little information on it so far.
Michigan Farm Bureau industry relations specialist Theresa Sisung tells us there is still some time for the bill.
“This one was supposed to expire back in September of last year, but they gave it a one-year extension,” Sisung said. “So, this farm bill is good until September of this year.”
Sisung says the Farm Bill is complex and covers dozens of programs. She says it’s good for both farmers and consumers.
“Looking at some of the food assistance programs. So, the SNAP benefits, the WIC program, things like that are all tied into the Farm Bill and they’re a part of the Farm Bill. There’s also conservation and technical assistance programs that are part of the Farm Bill. Sort of specific commodity type programs to provide risk management tools for farmers are all a part of the Farm Bill.”
Sisung says Michigan growers want the bill to include more risk management resources as growers in the state face wild weather.
Kretchman says the Farm Bill also includes conservation assistance and crop insurance, both important in Berrien County. He says he’d like to see the bill done in a timely manner, but given that this is an election year, that may be unrealistic.
Sisung says the current Farm Bill could just be extended again if it comes to that.
