The University of Missouri Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) Director Pat Westhoff says Chairman Conaway needs 60 votes for support of the farm bill proposal.
“The argument is he needs to be able to put together a package that can get a strong majority in the Senate. He needs at least 60 votes for approval in the Senate, which means he needs Democratic support. It’s a different path in what the House has been rumored to be on.”
Westhoff says uncertainty remains on whether or not the farm bill will be split.
“I think most people have come to the conclusion keeping the farm bill together makes it more likely to have the kind of support required for the House and Senate to get a package done. Other folks could say the SNAP component has been so controversial, maybe we’re better off separating the two and seeing what can get done. I don’t know the answer, but I do know it is challenging to get the majority of the House and 60 people in the Senate to support a farm-only package.”