The Farm Bill Goes “Back to the Future”

The Senate and House Agriculture Committees have set a example for the rest of Congress in creating bipartisan bills to address the future of U.S. food and agriculture policy, and save billions of dollars in the process. Allowing them to rapidly move forward and complete their work is a positive step that will remove a cloud of uncertainty for the food supply chain and the country as a whole.

The outcome of the November election will likely determine how many issues will be fully considered during the extended “Lame Duck” session of Congress. Given the potential impact, there are major benefits for the country in ensuring that the Farm Bill is fully reauthorized, so that we do not remain mired in the 1940s.

^{Kam Quarles is Director of Legislative Affairs for the firm of McDermott Will & Emery and focuses on food and agribusiness policy.}

^{[1] Monke, Jim. “Possible Extension or Expiration of the 2008 Farm Bill” Congressional Research Service March, 2012}