In the early hours of May 24th the House Agriculture Committee advanced the farm bill on a 33 to 21 vote with just four Democrats joining 29 Republicans. The Republicans were able to block attempts by Democrats to amend the bill.

The amendments blocked included:

  • Restoration of requirements that conservation money from the Inflation Reduction Act focus on climate-smart practices
  • A provision that would keep the USDA secretary’s authority over the Commodity Credit Corporation
  • Restoration of $27 billion in funding over 10 years to support the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
  • A provision to ensure meatpackers with USDA contracts follow child-labor laws.

This bill would increase reference prices in the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and increase coverage levels and payments under the Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) program. Farmers could update and add base acres to their operations with a cap of 30 million acres. Farmers who receive 75% or more of their income from farming have their payment limits increased from $125,000 to $155,000.

The bill also expands crop insurance premium subsidy support for beginning farmers and ranchers. It increases premium support for the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) to 80%.

Read more about farm bill amendments here.