Unraveling the Farm Bill Dilemma and State Agricultural Efforts

At the Federal Level

The Farm Bill is a crucial bipartisan package of legislation that typically undergoes reauthorization every five years. It regulates and funds various food and farm programs, ranging from USDA conservation initiatives to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. However, the 2018 Farm Bill, which was extended in 2023, expired in fall 2024 and now awaits an uncertain fate as the congressional lame-duck session approaches.

Larew explained that coming into 2023, there was an intention to learn from the pandemic and create better provisions to safeguard farmers and the U.S. food system. But as deadlines passed, perspectives shifted, and now there is a strong likelihood of another extension, bringing uncertainty for the next year. He emphasized that passing a Farm Bill is challenging even in a normal year, let alone when it is low on the priority list of a new administration. Larew hopes the president-elect's plans to cut government spending do not affect the Farm Bill and will continue to advocate that it cannot be balanced on the backs of farmers.

As Part of the "Farm Bill Limbo" Panel

Larew joined DTN Progressive Farmer Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton and Cheryl Tevis, an ag-focused writer with the Iowa Writers' Collaborative, on the "Farm Bill Limbo" panel. The other panelists shared similar concerns about potential changes in agriculture policy from the upcoming administration, including tariffs, mass deportations, and the conflicting interests of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Brooke Rollins. Tevis expressed doubt that Congress would reach an agreement on the Farm Bill before the end of the year.

Before the panel, Iowa Farmers Union members shared their experiences with USDA programs such as cover crops subsidies, conservation easements, energy programs for freezer upgrades and solar panel installations, and local food procurement funding. Shaffer Ridgeway, a union member and vegetable farmer from Waterloo, highlighted the challenges faced by specialty crop farmers in utilizing these programs on their smaller-scale farms and expressed concern that their removal in the next Farm Bill could lead to increased skepticism among farmers.

At the State Level

Iowa Farmers Union President Aaron Lehman began the Saturday sessions by providing an overview of the union's achievements in 2024. Membership growth has been consistent over the past 12 years, and Lehman commended union staff and members for their opposition to the sale of a nitrogen fertilizer plant to Koch Industries and their successful Farmers Union Day at the state fair.

Lehman also emphasized the union's efforts to oppose a lawsuit aimed at dismantling a federal provision that protects wetlands. By becoming intervenors in the lawsuit along with other groups, the union is ensuring its presence at the table to defend important environmental protections. Additionally, Lehman highlighted the union's success in securing the first-ever state-funded procurement of local food in collaboration with the Iowa Food System Coalition. Union members were invited to the local food policy summit to discuss their work and future plans to grow the Iowa local food economy.

Lehman concluded by stating that there is much more work to be done in the coming year. It requires collective efforts at the countryside level, around community tables, and on farms to make a real difference from the ground up.