Republican members of the U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee have developed framework for a new, more producer centered farm bill.
Jimmy Parnell, President of the Alabama Farmers Federation, expressed his organization’s appreciation for lawmakers involved.
“We appreciate Ranking Member Boozman capturing many of the priorities he and his staff heard directly from Alabama farmers,” Parnell said. “We also appreciate the inclusion of priorities carried forward by Alabama Sens. Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt. Although the farm bill still has a long way to go, we are pleased this framework improves the safety net for farmers while making our nation more food secure.”
Senator John Boozman of Arkansas who authored the proposal wants to “put more farm in the farm bill.”
RELATED: As first Farm Bill in six years moves forward, Tuberville says Congress must get it right
“Our framework released today meets that call by modernizing the farm safety net, facilitating the expansion of access to overseas markets, fostering breakthroughs in agricultural research and growing the rural communities our farmers, ranchers and foresters call home – all while making a historic investment in conservation and protecting nutrition programs that help Americans in need,” Boozman said. “I am eager to follow the House’s lead and draft a bill that will garner support on both sides of the aisle.”
To help create the framework, in 2022 Boozman hosted members of the Federation’s Agriculture Leaders For Alabama class. The House Committee on Agriculture advanced its version of the farm bill last month. That piece of legislation is titled the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024. The Federation also supports the House version.
The farm bill governs U.S. agriculture, nutrition and conservation policy. Congress generally approves a farm bill every five years. The current statute expired last year but was extended by Congress.
Currently, more than three-quarters of farm bill spending goes to nutrition programs, a number that is expected to increase over the next five years.
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
