Congress is unlikely to pass a new farm bill before the current one expires.
But, the state’s congressional delegation is confident one will pass by the end of the year.
Both the 2018 farm bill and government funding expire on Sept. 30.
South Dakota’s US Senators expect government funding will get addressed first.
Sen. Mike Rounds said it’s likely Congress will extend the current farm bill until they can work on the new one.
“Most of the programs that are included in it that are critical are ongoing and it won’t be impacted. But there are some provisions that we want to see get put into the farm bill that could be improved upon,” Rounds said. “We do expect it to be completed by the end of the year. That’s really our goal. As long as we get it done by the end of the year we really don’t have concerns with a three-month extension.”
The congressional delegation is pushing provisions to directs the US Trade delegation to negotiate mandatory country of origin labelling on meat products.
Sen. John Thune said the delay is typical of Congress.
“This is a rodeo we’ve been at a few times,” Thune said.
This is the Senate minority whip’s fifth farm bill. Thune said farm bill extensions have been done in the past.
“It’s not ideal. Ideal would be having a farm bill in place by Sept. 30 when the current one expires," Thune said. "As I mentioned earlier, the Democrat majority controls the Senate—they control when we mark the bill up. They haven’t scheduled a date for that yet. I’m hopeful that when we get back in the fall—in September—we will get right to work on the farm bill in the ag committee.”
Thune said the bill will go through a procedural process in the Senate, which will include amendments. Then, the Senate will work on a compromise package with the Republican controlled House.
Thune expects the House could have a complicated time producing a farm bill package. There, Republicans hold a slim majority, which gives an outsized influence to a more conservative wing of the caucus.
