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Farm Bureau lobbyist expects finished farm bill before end of year

A farmer organization’s lobbyist is optimistic there will be a new farm bill between election day and the end of the year.

Andrew Walmsley is the Director of Congressional Relations for American Farm Bureau.  He says, “We’d all like to be maybe a little bit further along, but I definitely see a pathway for us to hopefully wrap up a 2018 Farm Bill by the end of the year.”

Walmsley tells Brownfield what he’s hearing on Capitol Hill points to getting it done yet this year.  “I think we’ve got a little bit of time, you know, here in the next month or so to really wrap that up and get it through a lame duck (Congressional session).  The committees have made it clear to us that they’re not talking about an extension, that’s not their intention, and really, any talk of that is kind of a distraction.”

Walmsley tells Brownfield most Members of Congress are home campaigning now but might come back if a deal is struck.  “If they can strike a deal, they might come back and do a farm bill, but I wouldn’t be holding my breath on that one.  I think we’re looking at a lame duck.”
Walmsley says farmers should stay positive because the four principal leaders are still at the bargaining table and their staffs are still working out details.  He says, “Typically when you have these type of negotiations on, the less you know and hear out in the public, probably the better the progress is that’s being made.”