By Clint Thompson
The Senate Agriculture Committee’s failure to advance the farm bill on Thursday was mostly due to disagreements over Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). That’s an unfortunate development for members of the specialty crops community, including Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council and co-chair of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA).
“Sadly, those things are out of the control of a lot of the industry folks, particularly the specialty crop industry. SNAP discussions are way above our pay grade,” Quarles said. “We knew it was going to be a challenge going into this markup. The chairman is trying to keep the momentum up for a farm bill. The good news in all of this is that even though we weren’t able to get a bill out of committee today, they didn’t shut the process down for the year. What they did was they recessed the committee until they return after Labor Day. That’s going to give the opportunity for folks to negotiate, discuss alternatives for nearly a month.
“Hopefully, when they’re back and ready to go in the fall, there will be a reassessment, and we can get the farm bill up and going again.”
The bill failed 10-11.
The SCFBA is co-chaired by Cathy Burns, CEO of the International Fresh Produce Association; Mike Joyner, President of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association; Dave Puglia, President and CEO of Western Growers; and Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council.
Chairman Thompson’s Response
Other members of the ag community were equally disappointed.
House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) issued the following statement in response.
“On behalf of our nation’s farmers, ranchers, and rural Americans, I am deeply disappointed in the results of today’s farm bill markup in the Senate Agriculture Committee,” Chairman Thompson said. “It is clear that Senate Democrats are not in search of real solutions for farm country. Even the inclusion of year-round E15, dozens of Democrat amendments, and a delay in the SNAP benefit cost share could not entice Senate Democrats to support producers and vote for the farm bill.
“Chairman (John) Boozman and his team went above and beyond to accommodate requests from across the aisle, even including some compromises that we are not fully comfortable with in the House. Despite this, Democrats could not get to a yes.
“The work on a full, five-year farm bill does not end here. I will continue to find practical solutions for American producers that address modern needs, and I hope my colleagues across the aisle will come to their senses and join Chairman Boozman and me in supporting American agriculture.”