As Congress reconvenes, the clock is ticking on critical decisions that will shape the agricultural landscape in 2024 and beyond. With a December 20 deadline looming for a new funding resolution, lawmakers face a packed agenda, including the passage of disaster aid, a farm bill extension, and a Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the government operational.
One-Year Extension Likely
Reports indicate that House Republican leadership plans to attach a one-year extension of the farm bill to the CR, which would postpone major funding and policy decisions until 2025. While this extension would provide temporary relief, it’s a less-than-ideal solution for an industry already grappling with outdated frameworks.
The last farm bill, authorized in 2018, expired two years ago, leaving farmers and ranchers to operate under policies that no longer address today’s challenges. Republican Governors expressed their frustration in a letter to Congress, emphasizing that another year-long extension would fail to address evolving needs in agriculture:
“Our nation’s agriculture industry is in trouble, and if meaningful support is not provided soon, the well-being of the nation is at risk,” the letter stated.