Farm Bill Extension Passed, Funding In Place Until September 2024

[Elmira Telegram 285]

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Discussions and negotiations on the new Farm Bill have been stymied by opposing views on issues such as crop subsidies and funding for support programs such as  the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which makes up around 80 percent of the bill’s spending. Republicans have pushed for more work requirements and stricter limits on SNAP accessibility, while Democrats have opposed the ideas. 

The funding extension also avoids some of the dangers of letting key funding lapse at the end of the year, including what’s known as the “dairy cliff.” In the 1940s, permanent laws were created to establish safety nets for certain commodities deemed essential, including milk. The government was directed to buy dairy at inflated prices to support farm production. That law gets suspended with each Farm Bill, and without a new Farm Bill, there are fears that prices for dairy could shoot up dramatically.

 

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