Farm Law Expires As Negotiators Remain Divided on New Bill

The 2014 farm bill expired Sunday, ending dozens of programs and putting others in a holding pattern until four key lawmakers either produce a replacement bill or seek some form of extension of the now defunct law.

The four principal negotiators working on a 2018 farm bill say they hope to resolve differences between House and Senate farm bills and have a conference report ready in October for a vote in the lame-duck session in November or December.

However, Louisiana Republican Ralph Abraham, one of 47 House farm bill conferees, took aim at Stabenow, a Democrat running for re-election in a state that President Donald Trump won in 2016, and Senate Democrats.

“Each time we think we have an agreement, Sen. Stabenow and Senate Democrats move the goal posts, asking for ridiculous things like crop insurance for roof top gardens and other urban farm priorities,” Abraham said in a statement on Friday.

Abraham said Democrats “have put at risk vital agriculture programs that rural America depends on all to tow the party line and delay as much legislative business as possible in hopes they’ll retake Congress in the midterm elections.”

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