In an unusual move, commodity groups are coordinating efforts in bringing producers and other ag stakeholders to Washington, DC in an effort to get a new Farm Bill passed before the end of 2024. Agri-Pulse reports that such a cross-commodity initiative has not been put into practice since farmers pushed for what became the 2002 Farm Bill. Iowa banker Caleb Hopkins, vice chairman of the Ag and Rural Bankers Committee with the American Bankers Association, was reported by Politico as saying, “If the farm bill is not passed this year, agricultural producers will struggle to obtain credit during the 2025 production year. That will come as a blow to farmers who have experienced low commodity prices and high input costs.” Lawmakers, who have just returned from recess, are working on must-pass legislation to keep the government open past September 30. That is also the day the one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill is set to expire.
Washington sees coordinated push for farm bill passage
