After several years of delays and mounting pressure from farm groups, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman on Tuesday unveiled a long-awaited farm bill framework that has drawn cautious praise from major agricultural organizations while also exposing significant divisions over issues left out of the proposal, including California’s controversial Proposition 12 livestock housing law.
The discussion draft, dubbed “Farm Bill 2.0” by Senate Republicans, represents the Senate’s most substantial effort yet to advance comprehensive agricultural legislation after the House narrowly passed its own version of the farm bill in April. Farm groups have spent months urging Congress to modernize federal farm policy as producers grapple with low commodity prices, high input costs, inflation and continued uncertainty in global agricultural markets.
Several of the nation’s largest agricultural organizations welcomed Boozman’s proposal as a meaningful step toward completing a five-year farm bill, arguing that farmers need greater certainty from federal programs amid challenging economic conditions.
The American Soybean Association said the framework includes a number of priorities sought by soybean growers, including investments in the farm safety net, conservation programs, rural development initiatives, research funding and market development opportunities.
“Soybean farmers need the certainty and stability that only a five-year farm bill can provide,” said Scott Metzger, president of the soybean association. He praised Boozman and committee members for developing legislation that recognizes challenges facing agriculture while advancing priorities important to soybean producers.
Among the provisions highlighted by soybean growers are measures designed to advance plant biostimulants, improve fertilizer research, expand conservation technical assistance, strengthen rural broadband deployment and support precision agriculture technologies. The proposal also seeks to bolster domestic demand for soy-based products through increased support for bio-based manufacturing, renewable energy programs and sustainable aviation fuel development.
The American Farm Bureau Federation likewise endorsed the framework as an important starting point while emphasizing that additional work remains.
“Farm Bureau appreciates Sen. Boozman’s work to move a farm bill forward in the Senate,” said Zippy Duvall. “The discussion draft is a good first step and provides a solid foundation that Farm Bureau will work to improve upon as the Senate moves toward markup.”
Farm Bureau pointed to provisions that would improve access to agricultural credit, increase investments in specialty crops, expand research and conservation efforts and increase transparency in fertilizer markets.
Yet even as agricultural groups applauded progress, several organizations quickly highlighted what they viewed as critical omissions.
Most notably, the draft does not include language addressing California’s Proposition 12, a voter-approved law that established animal housing requirements for pork sold within the state. The measure has become one of the most contentious issues in agricultural policy, with many livestock groups arguing it effectively imposes California standards on producers nationwide.
The National Pork Producers Council led a coalition of more than 330 agricultural organizations Tuesday in urging Senate leaders to include a legislative solution to Proposition 12 in the final farm bill. The coalition argues that without federal action, livestock producers could face an expanding patchwork of state animal housing regulations.
“America’s pork producers will continue to advocate for a Prop. 12 fix in the formal farm bill like our livelihood depends on it—because it does,” said Rob Brenneman, an Iowa pork producer.
The omission stands in contrast to the House-passed farm bill, which included language supported by livestock groups intended to address interstate commerce concerns related to state agricultural production standards. Farm Bureau also identified protection against a patchwork of state laws as one of its top priorities still absent from the Senate draft.
The debate over Proposition 12 has intensified in recent weeks as agricultural organizations and animal welfare advocates have launched competing campaigns aimed at influencing lawmakers ahead of Senate consideration of the legislation.
Beyond the Proposition 12 dispute, Farm Bureau said it remains focused on securing additional economic assistance for farmers facing what the organization described as a multiyear downturn in the farm economy, as well as congressional approval of year-round sales of E15 gasoline blended with 15% ethanol.
The Senate proposal arrives as lawmakers face increasing pressure to complete a farm bill after repeated extensions of previous legislation. Agricultural groups have warned that prolonged delays create uncertainty for producers making long-term business decisions and for state agencies responsible for administering farm programs.
Ted McKinney, chief executive officer of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), praised Boozman’s decision to release the discussion draft and called completion of a farm bill vital to the agricultural sector.
“As this process gets underway in the Senate, NASDA remains committed to advocating for a bipartisan farm bill that will advance the food, fiber and fuel provided by American agriculture,” McKinney said.
The release of the Senate framework now sets the stage for what is expected to be an intense period of negotiations among lawmakers, farm groups and industry stakeholders. While the draft has earned broad support as a starting point, disputes over Proposition 12, economic assistance and biofuel policy underscore the challenges still facing Congress as it attempts to deliver a bipartisan farm bill after years of legislative gridlock.
For many farm organizations, however, the emergence of a Senate proposal is significant progress in itself. The central question now is whether lawmakers can bridge their differences and move a final package across the finish line before another extension of current farm policy becomes necessary.
Click HERE for the legislative text.
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Click HERE for a section-by-section.
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