One of the most often asked questions of Dr. Bobby Coats is, "When will the new farm bill be completed?"
Coats, a professor/economist with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, said that, while no one knows, spring is a good bet.
"A review of the timelines of the previous two farm bills suggests that the writing of the new farm bill is on schedule. I believe that excellent progress is being made to complete the new farm bill."
The 1996 farm bill was actually intended to be the 1995 farm bill, he said. It was signed into law in April of 1996. The 2002 farm bill was actually intended to be the 2001 farm bill. It was signed into law in May 2002.
"I expect the new farm bill to be signed into law in April or May of this year, if not before," Coats said. He said these points, illustrate what Congress is up against:
--First, the Congress is in the process of writing one of the most challenging farm bills in U.S. history.
--Second, no one familiar with writing a farm bill expected the process to be quick or easy, but progress is being made.
--Third, writing a farm bill is challenging because of its importance to so many. A list of those with agricultural and food policy interests includes small, limited resource farmers to the largest family farmers, agribusiness, national and regional taxpayers, consumers, including those receiving food assistance, environmentalists, rural communities and social welfare advocates.
The House of Representatives passed its version of a farm bill July 27 by a vote of 231 to 191. The Senate passed their version Dec. 14, 79 to 14.
Next, the House and Senate Conference Committee must meet to resolve disagreements between the House and Senate farm bills, according to Coats.
The conference committee will officially meet later this month. Work on resolving the differences in the House and Senate farm bills - with input from the president - has been underway since the Senate passed its version.
"My expectation is that the farm bill legislation produced by the Senate and House Conference Committee will be approved on the floor of the House and Senate," Coats said. "Then, the farm bill will be sent to the president to sign or veto.
A "huge amount of work" will have taken place by Congress and the president in the joint conference committee at that point, Coats said.
"I expect the president to sign the new farm bill, since he will already have had input into the new legislation," he predicted.
The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the U of A Division of Agriculture.High Plains Midwest Ag Journal
