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Thompson sees timeline for authorizing the next farm bill, extension ‘not an option’

The ranking member of the House Ag Committee says an extension of the 2018 Farm Bill isn’t an option.

Glenn GT Thompson says he would like to see the bill reauthorized before it expires next September. “The legislative process would need to conclude in September if we’re going to do this, if we’re going to get it to President Biden’s desk by the end of September.”

He says its timeline hinges on when the House Budget Committee will provide a funding baseline.  “Somewhere around June or July because we have to be putting things together. Again, I come back to the fact that you don’t have to rewrite the entire farm bill. The purpose of reauthorization is to address those areas that need to be tweaked, improved or even transformed.”

Speaking with reporters during the Farm Progress Show, Thompson said an area that needs revisiting is Title 1. “Reference prices are sort of irrelevant when you have high input costs. Farming is a business.  At the end of the day, you might be getting great prices, but it’s the margin that matters in business.  I don’t know what the solution is there.”

He says the committee could adjust Title 1 by looking at the success from the Dairy Margin Coverage.

Thompsons says he expects hearings for the 2023 Farm Bill to begin in January.