U.S. House Moves Farm Bill Out of Committee on Bipartisan Vote

On May 24, the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture considered the Farm, Food, and National Security Act. This legislation authorizes, governs, and funds agricultural and nutrition programs, and is commonly referred to as the “farm bill.” After more than 13 hours of debate and discussion, the legislation was approved out of committee on a bipartisan vote of 33-21. Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Penn.) noted during the markup he does not expect it to get time on the House Floor until September. U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) has released topline summaries of her legislation, but final text is still being drafted.

In a media statement, ASTA’s President & CEO Andy LaVigne commented, “Seed producers need certainty to estimate future demand, and the farmers and producers we support need a reliable safety net to ensure they can continue to plant, grow, and harvest the food that feeds a growing global population in an ever-changing climate.” Click here to view ASTA’s full statement.