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History shows farm bill extension is likely

A long-time policy specialist says history tells us the 2018 Farm Bill probably won’t get done on time.

Syngenta senior government lead Mary Kay Thatcher says in the last 40 years, Congress has yet to pass a farm bill before the existing law was scheduled to expire.

“So, that’s probably a pretty good trend-line.”

Speaking to Brownfield at the Iowa Women In Ag Conference in Ankeny, Iowa, Thatcher points out Congress only has 11 days in session before the current Farm Bill expires September 30th.

“And we have a Supreme Court nominee that we’re going to want to get moved and get on before the Supreme Court starts on October 1st.  We still have 12 of the 12 appropriations bills to fund the federal government that needs to get done.  You have Mr. Trump saying maybe he’s going to veto some of them if they don’t build a wall.”

And with the Farm Bill conference committee now in place, Thatcher says the House and Senate remain far apart on SNAP.

“I personally don’t see a way that the Senate could ever pass the kind of SNAP reform that the House passed, needing 60 votes.  I don’t think you can find nine Democrats that would vote for it.”

Thatcher spoke at the Conference, which was held at the Iowa FFA Enrichment Center on Thursday.

 

 

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