April Could See Senate Farm Bill Action

The next farm bill is on track in the Senate and may move as soon as April, Senate Ag Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) told Bloomberg Government. Work is underway to prepare the Senate version of the farm bill reauthorization, he noted. "We could have a markup in April," Roberts said. "I do not know if it is that first week but maybe the second, and we will see if we can get it done."

Meanwhile, the House farm bill process has slowed considerably or potentially even halted in the wake of Democratic members of the Ag panel halting negotiations over GOP efforts to reform the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), ranking member on the House Ag Committee, claims the Senate bill actually will increase food stamp benefits and does not propose any cuts to the program. "I am going to be supporting the Senate bill, not the House bill," Peterson said. The current farm bill expires on September 30.