Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) announced that progress on the farm bill has stalled due to Republican resistance to compromise on SNAP and climate funding. Republicans are advocating for significant increases in crop subsidy spending, cuts to SNAP funding, and the use of climate funds for soil and water projects that do not mitigate carbon emissions. Stabenow supports smaller increases in crop support, opposes SNAP cuts and insists on strict regulations for climate funding.
“This year, we’re stuck because of an increased sense of partisanship and a desire by Republicans to really, really play politics with food,” said Stabenow during a Zoom call to rural Americans by the Harris/Walz campaign on Tuesday night.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who has been instrumental in previous successful farm bills (2008, 2014 and 2018), has also been active in the current discussions, Stabenow said. Walz’s efforts include “marker” bills focused on land stewardship and supporting new farmers, particularly veterans. The 2018 Farm Bill adopted several of Walz’s proposals for veterans in agriculture, providing expanded access to education, training, crop insurance benefits and premium subsidies.
Minnesota offers tax credits and financial support for beginning farmers, including a program by the Rural Finance Authority to reduce borrowing costs and grants to help with farm down payments. Walz emphasized the vital role of agriculture in Minnesota’s economy and the importance of supporting both current and new farmers, especially in challenging times.
