Overcoming Farm Bill Hurdles

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway is focused on securing the votes he needs to move the proposed farm bill to the floor.  Combest, Sell and Associates managing partner Tom Sell says a partisan turn in the House version of the farm bill will require party control. “That will be the make-or-break with getting the next farm bill over the next hurdle. The first big hurdle is the committee, and the second is floor action in the House and Senate. It really will require party discipline to succeed on the floor.” House lawmakers could be voting as soon as May 14. Sell says the Senate is a little behind the process. The main challenge is the lack of bipartisan compromise. “There’s a lot of nervousness in the country on the process and the content. You can find farmers in every reach of this nation when you unpack the House bill,” says Sell. “I think that will be the same in the Senate bill, given the budget neutral nature. This farm bill, like all farm bills, face challenges. However, you have to press through.”