The new Congress has a full plate, dealing with the debt ceiling, a tax bill and the confirmation process. 
However, American Sugarbeet Growers Association President Neil Rockstad would like to see the farm bill completed sooner rather than later. “I think it would be an excellent win for Congress if it is their first bipartisan bill to come out this year,” said Rockstad. “I’m not convinced that is going to happen, but I think there is a little bit of a push for it because they need a win early on and the hopeful side of me would like to see the farm bill being part of that.” The House Agriculture Committee passed a farm bill last spring and that could be the starting point for the upcoming farm bill debate. Rockstad, who farms at Ada, Minnesota, sees one hurdle. “They’re going to have to change the baseline budget because they didn’t pass a bill based on 2024 numbers so the process got a little bit more cumbersome, but negotiations are taking place.”
