Extension May Be Needed Before Farm Bill 2023 Passes

By Chuck Cannon

NEW ORLEANS – A packed house attended the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Convention’s Farm Bill Lunch June 24 at the Marriott Hotel on Canal Street in New Orleans.

Robbie Minnich, vice president of Washington Operations for the National Cotton Council, Skylar Sowder, vice president of Government Affairs for the Farm Credit Council, and Joby Young, executive vice president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, composed a panel that addressed questions posed by Dr. Michael Deliberto, an economist with the LSU AgCenter.

The question that garnered the most interest from the overflow crowd of producers, lenders and economists dealt with when Congress might pass the 2023 Farm Bill. Young said the current bill is set to expire Sept. 30.

“We’re working on listening sessions and sifting through input,” Young said. “We’re also looking for places we can shift money around.”

Young said he was optimistic the bill would be passed by Sept. 30.

“There are ongoing discussions now among leaders and I think it can get done,” he said.

Minnich and Sowder were not as optimistic.

“I don’t see how you can get both chambers together, the bills signed and passed into law by Dec. 31,” Minnich said. “That’s not to say there is no progress being made, but I think early next year is more realistic.  

Sowder agreed, but for a different reason than Minnich.

“I think there is a good possibility of a government shutdown Sept. 20,” she said. “If that happens, then the bill will have to wait until that is over.”

Sowder said she doesn’t anticipate a lengthy government shutdown.

“I think the House and Senate will eventually work things out pretty quickly, but it will slow everything down and affect when the new Farm Bill is passed,” she said. “We might need a short-term extension (to the current Farm Bill), but maybe by Fall it will get done. We’ll need bi-partisan support to get it done.”

Robert Warren and his son, Ty, farm nearly 4,000 acres in Morehouse, Richland, West Carroll and Madison parishes. He said he left the meeting unsatisfied.

“I came here looking for a definite answer, and didn’t get it,” Robert said. “There are too many things that need to be addressed in the bill; we need to stay on top of it.”