Watch These Lawmakers During Farm Bill Talks

When negotiations pick up for the 2018 Farm Bill—a complex, $1-trillion, 10-year, omnibus piece of legislation—Julie Anna Potts, American Farm Bureau executive vice president, suggests we watch a few key players. Here are her thoughts on who is important during the looming debate:

Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas; chairman, House Committee on Agriculture). Potts considers Conaway “a mighty force.” He seeks to keep farm spending at its current level and reform spending on the nutrition component of the bill. As an accountant, he has a knack for numbers. Look for him to use his analytics during the process. He is a passionate lawmaker who understands the farm economy.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich., ranking member, U.S. Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee). Stabenow was chairwoman of the committee during the last farm bill. Look for her to be strong on the environment and energy programs. She is also supportive of commodity and conservation programs.

Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn., ranking member, House Committee on Agriculture). Peterson has been a part of previous farm bills. He knows how to work across party lines. Potts considers him a rare blue-dog Democrat.

Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan., chairman, U.S. Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee). Roberts was in both the House and Senate as chairman and ranking member on several farm bills. He was part of the 1996 Freedom to Farm Bill that provided direct payments to producers totally decoupled from what they were growing. “He is foursquare in favor of the crop insurance program and risk management programs,” Potts says.

Speaker of the House, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). Ryan’s interest is reforming the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Look for Conaway to work with Ryan on revisions to eligibility to SNAP that House leadership would support.

Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa). Grassley has always had a strong interest in payment limits. Others who have expressed similar views to Grassley, including Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Rep. John Duncan (R-Tenn.), and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.)

Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.). Durbin had a strong role in previous farm bills. This round, he has mentioned crop insurance as a potential place to cut. “That does not sit well with our producers,” Potts says.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.). Look for Democrats to fight any cuts to nutrition assistance. Gillibrand will likely lead these efforts, as she did in the last farm bill. “She is a feisty fire for her beliefs and values, and will represent those issues well,” Potts adds.

Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss., member, U.S. Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee). Potts views Cochran as a “very powerful senator” who brings perspective for cotton growers and other commodities in the Mississippi Delta region.    Source: Penton