Policy Updates: Farm Bill stalls in Senate

Farm Bill stalls in Senate (AgWeb): The Senate Agriculture Committee failed to advance its Farm Bill after a 10-11 vote yesterday, with disagreements over Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cost-sharing preventing the measure from moving forward before Congress’s August recess. Negotiators had reached agreement on many agricultural provisions, but the two parties remained divided over how long states should have before assuming a larger share of SNAP administrative costs. Republicans backed a one-year delay before the changes take effect, while Democrats sought a two-year transition, arguing that some states could face significant new financial burdens.

Although the overall bill stalled, senators approved several amendments that could shape future negotiations. Most notably, the committee voted with bipartisan support to include language creating a pathway to restore mandatory country-of-origin labeling (MCOOL) for beef. Rather than immediately reinstating the program, the amendment directs the U.S. Trade Representative and USDA to develop a World Trade Organization-compliant approach within 180 days. Other proposed changes, including efforts to restore conservation funding and expand oversight of farm program payments, failed to gain approval.

Lawmakers are expected to continue negotiating throughout the August recess with hopes of reviving the legislation later this year. The central obstacle remains finding a compromise on SNAP implementation timelines, while other unresolved differences between the Senate and House—including the Senate’s MCOOL language and the House’s Save Our Bacon Act—would still need to be reconciled before a final Farm Bill could reach the president’s desk.