House Speaker Mike Johnson announced a last-minute breakthrough on help for farmers. A must-pass bill to avert a government shutdown will now include farm aid, giving farmers something to celebrate the Christmas season. A high-pressure lobbying effort by multiple farm groups and Johnson himself has paid off.
“What you’ll see reflected in this final package is $10 billion to start,” Johnson says. “In addition, USDA moved some things around and has added $2 billion for specialty crops they announced in late November, all of which means help is coming.”
Johnson hopes with this announcement that a great sigh of relief is coming from farm country.
“I’ve talked to several leaders in the ag community who say they’re greatly relieved,” Johnson added.
While it’s not the $15 to $20 billion the American Farm Bureau and many others were asking for, Johnson says the new aid comes not a moment too soon.
House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) said in a statement, “This addition of economic support is an important financial bridge, one that will help mitigate the severe downturn in the agricultural economy.
“Looking ahead to the 119th Congress, I hope to move quickly to enact a five-year farm bill that aligns the farm safety net with the needs of producers, among many other policies, to minimize the need for annual economic aid.”
Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall released a statement of his own saying, “I know I speak for farmers across the country when I say thank you to Speaker Johnson, Leaders Jeffries, Schumer and McConnell, and many other members of Congress for recognizing the incredibly difficult agricultural economy by including in the year-end legislation: much-needed economic assistance for farmers; emergency aid for communities devastated by natural disasters; a farm bill extension; and for making E-15 available at fuel pumps all year long.”
He went on to say, “There is no doubt in my mind that for many farmers, the critical funding in this bill could make the difference between planting a crop next year and giving up. We appreciate that members of Congress rolled up their sleeves to ensure farmers can continue to deliver the safest, most affordable and abundant food supply in the world.”
Source: NAFB News Service