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Exploring the direction of the next Farm Bill

Farm Bills are largely thought of as Congressional actions but an ag economist says that could change with the new administration.

Ohio State University professor emeritus Carl Zulauf says President-elect Trump’s level of involvement in crafting the 2018 Farm Bill could impact its direction.  “I think that will be a really key decision – how active does the President choose to be in the debate,” he says.  “And – what method he chooses to use.  Will he go to the American people, will he work with Congress, or will he use some combination of those remains to be seen.”

Zulauf says 1954 was the last time a Farm Bill was written with a Republican controlled Congress and a Republican in the White House.

He tells Brownfield that doesn’t provide a lot of historical data and that leaves a lot of uncertainties in how the Farm Bill discussions might play out.  “That’s furthered by the fact that President-elect Trump does not have a track record in public service, particularly in agriculture, that you can draw on to get some notion of his direction,” he says.

Zulauf says some questions to the direction of the next Farm Bill could be answered once the administration begins naming Cabinet members.

AUDIO: Carl Zulauf, Ohio State University