Federal Food Assistance Disagreement Could Again Delay Farm Bill

U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman (R-Arkansas) must count numbers as he eyes a long-awaited agreement on a new Farm Bill. His magic number is 60, the number of votes that it will take to pass the legislation through the 100-member Senate.

It is a reminder that even though Republicans hold majorities in both chambers of Congress and that President Donald Trump is also Republican, they can’t pass a new Farm Bill solely on their own under traditional rules.

The fact that this year is an election year adds one more level of complexity, especially for the U.S. House of Representatives where Republicans hold a five-seat majority.

The U.S. House passed a new bipartisan Farm Bill on April 30 by a vote of 224-200. The action represented progress after years of failure. Congress last agreed on a Farm Bill in 2018 and relied on a one-year extension the past three years.

Senate action on Farm Bill

The Senate Agriculture Committee met last week privately, both Republicans and Democrats, to begin outlining its version of the Farm Bill language. The public could see that draft early next month.

For the past half century, Congress has placed food assistance programs with agriculture-related policy in the Farm Bill, initially to secure support from both major political parties in rural and urban areas. That combination brings challenges.

SNAP cuts under One Big Beautiful Bill Act

It appears that 2026 will be the latest indication of that. Included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act – all 870 pages of it – are changes to federal food assistance, formerly called “food stamps.”

Republicans cut nearly 20% from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which equals about $187 billion over the next decade.

The Legal Defense Fund estimated that about four million Americans – one million of them children – will see food assistance cut in a typical month, with benefits reduced between $150 and $250. The changes also included expanded work requirements for able-bodied adults 18 to 64 (the age limit used to be 54) and the elimination of exemptions for veterans and homeless people.

About one in seven rural households receive SNAP, according to Food Research & Action Center, so any changes to benefits could impact farm communities.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act will require states to pick up a greater share of SNAP costs based on their payment error rates. Disagreements over the impact of those cuts could lead to additional discussions among Senators.  This could also lead to delays in how members put together the final text of a new Farm Bill if they alter implementation of some of the SNAP changes.

EDITOR’S TAKE:

Throughout my career I have dealt with the crafting and lobbying for the passage of Farm Bill legislation. Unfortunately, the current attempt to pass the remaining sections of the Farm Bill seem to have hit a brick wall. I personally don’t recall a more challenging negotiation. Sure, there have been plenty of discussions about farm policy, but this time seems much more contentious and controversial. One can only hope that these issues will be resolved sooner rather than later and that we will have a Farm Bill that addresses the needs of both farmers and food nutrition programs.

Farmers/ranchers, similar to most other businesses, like certainy and the ability to plan their future. We hope Congress will soon provide that clarity with the passage of the Farm Bill. You, however, can help create more certainty for your farm/ranch customers by promoting the use of CAD Protect. A program designed to specifically cover truck warranties when used on a farm or ranch when the OEM warranty excludes such coverage. That can bring peace of mind and confidence when they purchase that new truck or SUV. Be sure your Finance Manager is familiar with CAD Protect!