GOP governors push for farm bill reauthorization over extension

By Andi Anderson

Seventeen Republican governors, including Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, have called on Congress to reauthorize the Farm Bill, stressing the urgent need to address challenges facing the agricultural sector.

In a joint letter, the governors criticized the reliance on extensions of the 2018 Farm Bill, calling its framework outdated and inadequate for addressing modern agricultural challenges.

The 2018 Farm Bill, which sets funding and policies for agriculture and food programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), was extended after Congress failed to reauthorize it in 2023.

Another extension now seems likely, as lawmakers struggle to pass a new version before the year ends and the current extension expires.

The governors highlighted significant issues such as inflation, high input costs, natural disasters, and agricultural trade deficits as mounting pressures on the farming industry. They emphasized that continuing under the outdated 2018 bill would hinder farmers’ ability to adapt to evolving challenges.

“If a country can’t feed itself, fuel itself, or fight for itself, it cannot survive,” the letter stated, urging Congress to protect and revitalize the agriculture industry.

Proposals for a new Farm Bill have been met with political hurdles. Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow introduced an updated “Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act,” including $39 billion in new resources for farmers, rural communities, and SNAP participants.

However, Republican lawmakers have largely opposed the proposal, calling it inadequate for addressing the sector's needs.

The governors, including leaders from Iowa, Georgia, and Indiana, stressed the importance of acting now. They warned that another extension would leave farmers working under outdated policies and risk the nation’s agricultural self-reliance.

They called on Congress to fulfill its obligation to the agriculture industry, ensuring long-term stability and support for the country’s farmers and ranchers.

This appeal highlights the critical role of agriculture in sustaining the nation’s economy and security, emphasizing the need for swift and meaningful legislative action.