There is an outside chance a farm bill could be folded into the budget reconciliation bill. Pro Farmer Washington Consultant Jim Wiesemeyer delivered the keynote address at the Ihry Insurance farm meetings in Hillsboro and Hope, North Dakota. Wiesemeyer said it is still a question whether congressional leadership will allow controversial measures, like a farm bill, to be included. “I think it’s the only way you’re going to get a farm bill this year is if it is in that reconciliation bill because that doesn’t need one Democratic vote so Republicans can do what they want, relative to reforming the SNAP program, put additional worker requirements on food stamps, etc.” $10 billion in economic assistance for farmers was included in the continuing resolution passed at the end of the year. The Red River Farm Network asked Wiesmeyer when those payments will be released. “Sooner rather than later,” was the response. “The USDA people have signed off on it to tell you the truth. They haven’t said that publicly, but they’re ready to go.” Wiesemeyer expects the initial payment will be at 85 percent with the rest of the money coming in a supplemental payment this summer. Regarding the atmosphere in Washington under Trump 2.0, Wiesemeyer said ‘the only certainty is uncertainty.’ Click here for the full interview.
