The House Agriculture Committee is slated to mark up the 2018 farm bill on April 18. The draft of the bill could come early next week. Committee rules call for three days’ notice prior to a business meeting and 24 hours for bill text. The current farm bill expires on September 30. Negotiations have been halted over Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/food stamp) provisions proposed by committee Chairman Mike Conaway, R-Texas.
House Ag Ranking Member Collin Peterson, D-Minn., said SNAP is the only major hurdle on farm bill talks thus far. “Everything else is pretty well worked out.” The full House farm bill debate is expected to take place by mid-May.