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Farm bill year begins

The Republican leader of the House Ag Committee is eager to work on the next farm bill, but an ag lobbyist says agriculture committees must be finalized before any hearings can happen. Randy Russell tells Brownfield it could be mid-February before committee rosters are set.

“This coming weekend in Pennsylvania, G.T. Thompson is holding what he calls a listening session. It’s not an official House Ag Committee hearing, but it will be like a farm bill hearing. Because they haven’t gone through the official process, they cannot call it a hearing.”

The current farm bill expires in September and Russell says it may be difficult for lawmakers to finalize a farm bill before then. However, he thinks it’s possible for the 2023 Farm Bill to be complete or near complete by the end of the year.

“I think you’ll see a consolidated (farm bill) hearing schedule in the House and Senate.”

Thompson told Brownfield he would like to have the farm bill done in the summer and Russell says the Senate traditionally acts on the farm bill after the House. The 118th Congress starts this week.