WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives has passed a farm bill for the first time in eight years.
It expands access to credit and risk management tools, streamlines working lands conservation programs and protects interstate commerce for livestock producers.
The farm bill includes Republican Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach’s Investing In Rural America Act which restores and codifies farm credit institutions’ eligibility to finance essential rural facilities in partnership with local lenders and USDA’s Community Facilities Loan and Grant Program.
“I was proud to cast my vote for a bill that delivers for our farmers and rural communities,” Fischbach said. “This legislation provides the certainty our producers need to continue feeding and fueling the world.”
The bill includes North Dakota Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak’s amendment directing the Secretary of Agriculture to study the feasibility of providing storage facility loans to producers for on-farm fertilizer storage.
“Our producers need certainty, not short-term extensions, and this bill delivers. It strengthens the farm safety net, locks in key improvements we’ve fought for, and gives farmers and ranchers the tools they need to manage risk, invest in their operations, and plan for the future,” Fedorchak said.
Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee and Democratic Minnesota Senate candidate Rep. Angie Craig, voted against the legislation.
“The so-called farm bill that passed the House today does nothing to resolve high input costs, lost markets, surging food prices or provide a single penny in economic assistance to struggling family farmers,” Craig said.
North Dakota Farmers Union President Matt Perdue said he’s disappointed the House failed to authorize permanent, year-round E-15 gasoline.
“Family farmers need strong, stable domestic demand. We have waited long enough. It’s time to get it done,” Perdue said.
A controversial part of the bill that protected pesticide companies like Bayer which has fought lawsuits alleging Roundup, which has the chemical glyphosate, causes cancer was removed.
The legislation now moves to the Senate.
