Farm Bill
With debates over SNAP, Prop 12 and E15 heading to the full chamber, one Arkansas senator emphasizes bipartisan momentum to protect family farms.
USDA set new ARC/PLC enrollment deadlines this week and added 30 million base acres for 2026 and 2027. Economists say this gives farmers a clearer read on the programs, but warn against chasing whichever pays the most.
Boozman declines to reopen the bill for amendments as Democrats keep pressing on SNAP cost share. Year-round E15 and mandatory COOL make the cut, now the question is whether the Senate can find floor time before the end of the year.
Senate Ag Committee’s 10-11 farm bill vote stalls the legislation, but a bipartisan 17-6 vote on mandatory country-of-original labeling keeps mandatory beef labeling alive for a potential September revote.
Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman says if the bill is not passed out of committee on Thursday, it would be “very, very difficult” to get a Farm Bill passed this year. The chairman says the SNAP state cost share delays will be a hang-up for some Democrats.
The federal farm safety net was designed to offset losses. But some farmers and economists argue it has become a profit enhancer, raising questions about land values, competition and the future of agriculture.
Sen. Boozman’s Farm Bill 2.0 bolsters farm safety nets and updates conservation programs, but notably excludes Prop 12, E15 and pesticide labeling.
After passing the House 224-200, the farm bill is headed to the Senate, where SNAP funding could be another problematic topic.