Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) unveiled the text of a proposed farm bill early Monday. With Congress set to adjourn soon and her retirement looming at the end of this term, Stabenow is making a final push to pass the 1,397-page bill, or at least bring it to the table.
Stabenow’s Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act introduces several notable changes compared to previous farm bills.
Unlike earlier bills, Stabenow’s proposal integrates funding from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) directly into the farm bill to support climate-smart conservation practices. These initiatives aim to sequester carbon and improve soil health. This contrasts with previous bills, which allocated less explicit funding to climate resilience and conservation.
While past farm bills provided temporary disaster assistance on an as-needed basis, this proposal establishes a permanent framework for delivering emergency relief. This aims to ensure faster aid to farmers during crises, a significant improvement over prior ad hoc disaster programs.
Stabenow’s proposal increases reference prices for crop insurance, making it more affordable and inclusive of beginning, underserved, and small-scale farmers and ranchers. Previous bills primarily focused on established commodity crops and larger-scale operations, leaving smaller producers with limited support.
This bill allocates $8.5 billion to enhance access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, specifically targeting military families, seniors, and college students. It also emphasizes the inclusion of more fruits and vegetables. Past bills have not prioritized these demographic expansions or focused so heavily on nutrition assistance enhancements.
A dedicated $4.3 billion investment in rural healthcare, childcare, broadband access, and job creation represents a broader approach to rural prosperity. While rural investment has been included in past farm bills, this proposal significantly increases funding and scope.
Stabenow’s bill seems to shift assistance toward “farmers and ranchers with dirt under their fingernails,” reducing access to subsidies and benefits for large corporations, billionaires, and foreign investors—a sharper departure from the broader eligibility criteria in earlier bills.
Stabenow has struggled to secure Republican support throughout the year, and with Republicans set to control the presidency, House, and Senate in 2025, they are less inclined to support her late-stage push. Meanwhile, the House Agriculture Committee passed its version of a farm bill in May, but it has yet to gain leadership backing to bring it to a vote.
Congress faces a packed agenda, including funding the government, passing the National Defense Authorization Act, and addressing disaster aid. While the chances of passing a farm bill before adjournment appear slim, Stabenow remains optimistic.
The unexpected release of the bill caught many off guard, including farm groups and Senate colleagues, who have so far, had little immediate response.
Initially, Congress planned to pass a new farm bill in 2023 but shifted its focus to 2024. With the bill’s expiration on Sept. 30, over 30 programs have halted until a new bill or extension is passed.
A detailed summary of the proposed bill is available here.
