WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Congress will have just about 13 working days to pass a critical farm bill once they return to Washington next week.
Democrats and Republicans remain at odds over proposed cuts to national food nutrition programs like SNAP. It is likely Congress will need to pass another temporary extension to ensure funding does not expire.
Joe Gilson, AFBF Government Affairs Directors with the National Farm Bureau Federation, says while an extension prevents chaos, it will not provide the certainty farmers need to stay afloat long term.
Gilson says inflation, high interest rates and uncertain commodity prices are stretching small farmers thin.
According to recent census data, within the last five years 140,000 small farms have closed. Gilson says increased subsidies in a proposed five-year plan could prevent more farms from going under and maintain competition within the agriculture industry.
“It’s not just farmers that these impacts. This impacts everything you buy at the grocery store,” says Gilson.
Rep Mariannette Miller Meeks (R-Iowa.) says reaching a bipartisan compromise continues to be a challenge. In the meantime, farmers in her district are worried about the future.
“Because corn is down under $4 down under $4 a bushel. Soy is down under $10 a bushel. This is very dangerous territory for farmers,” says Miller Meeks.
Rep Johanna Hayes (D-Conn.) says farmers in her district also need more aid, but she says Republicans proposed $30 billion cut to national food nutrition programs is ill advised and would not save money.
“We’ve never had a farm bill that slashed feeding programs like this. And it is something that we just don’t have to do,” says Hayes.