At AFBF convention, Thompson and Craig stress urgency, bipartisan effort to shape farm bill.

A mid-February farm economy hearing of the U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Committee will kick off critical discussions needed to advance a farm bill in 2025, House leaders announced last week.

Speaking to a standing-room-only crowd at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) annual convention in San Antonio Jan. 26, House Ag Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson of Pennsylvania emphasized the importance of acting swiftly. 

He noted that lawmakers aim to build upon the bipartisan support for policies passed out of the committee last session.

“I really don’t have a time frame on the farm bill, except to say that sooner than later because the longer that we wait until the fall, the more likely we’re going to have to come back next December and ask for more economic disaster relief,” Thompson said. 

“Producers don’t want that … We don’t want that … We won’t have to do that if we get this farm bill that has strong safety net components in it passed sooner than later.”

Angie Craig, the new ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee...