The U.S. House of Representatives passed its farm bill on Thursday, containing sweeping updates to food and agriculture programs.
The bill is a budget-neutral package; the plan does not increase total spending.
The measure includes improved rates for crop insurance, and specialty crop support that hasn’t been altered since the 2018 farm bill update. The package authorizes subsidy and nutrition assistance programs through 2031.
A vote on year-round E-15 fuel sales is expected to come next month.
All four Kansas members of the U.S. House supported this farm bill, including Democrat Sharice Davids, who broke ranks from her party. Congresswoman Davids was among only 14 House Democrats (6.6%) to vote in favor of the bill. The final vote tally for passage was 224-200.
But the farm bill may face some long odds in the U.S. Senate, which has not provided a timeline for moving its farm-bill legislation.
One piece of the bill ranchers were hoping would be included, but ultimately did not stay, was mandatory country-of-origin labeling, in which beef packages would have to be labeled “Made in the U.S.A.” to be sold. Some ranchers and beef producers say consumers need to know where their beef comes from.
The farm bill's passage in the House is farther than it’s gone in recent years.
