The current legislation setting U.S. farm policy, the 2018 Farm Bill, is set to expire after five years this weekend, but House and Senate leaders have not put forward a plan for a temporary extension to continue hashing out final text of the 2023 Farm Bill.
The Farm Bill, which lasts for five years, authorizes programs and funding levels under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s jurisdiction. Some programs authorized by the current Farm Bill expire at the end of fiscal year 2023, or this weekend, while others expire at the end of the calendar year 2023.
Neither the House nor Senate Agriculture Committees have released draft text of the 2023 Farm Bill, and significant differences remain between Democrats and Republicans.
Senate Democrats want to include billions in funding from the Inflation Reduction Act for climate change programs into the 2023 Farm Bill as new baseline spending, a goal at odds with Senate Republicans.
Some other Senators have requested more funding for commodities, but finding that funding is a challenge.
Meanwhile, the House is currently consumed with the appropriations process and attempting to work out differences amongst the Republican majority regarding a path forward to avert a government shutdown, which is set for Saturday night.
House Leadership has so far not indicated any plans to pursue an extension of the current Farm Bill.
