Farm Bureau members share how federal policies impact their farm operations.

The prospect that Congress will approve a new farm bill this fall is slim to none, lawmakers told a contingent of Iowa farmers who visited Washington last week during Iowa Farm Bureau’s National Policy Trip.

Legislative engagement to hash out critical measures such as crop insurance, reference prices, or incentive and loan programs likely will be moved to next year after the 2024 election, Sens. Charles Grassley and Joni Ernst said, as few discussions are underway and time is limited this year.

Conversations need to happen, Ernst said, as congressional leaders navigate the complexities of pairing farm programs with nutrition and food support programs and the anticipated cost. Roughly 85% of the farm bill is earmarked for nutrition programs.

“We need more focus on farms in the farm bill,” said Ernst. 

Estimates have the bill, updated every five years, costing $1.5 trillion. An extension of the 2018 farm bill is expected into 2025 until a full five-year plan is passed.

Pictured above:  Deanna Brennecke

Farm Bureau members from 24 Iowa counties met with lawmakers and stressed the importance of an updated and workable farm bill along with other pressing issues by sharing impactful stories of how policies personally affect them and other Iowa farmers. 

Additional measures including reigniting trade efforts, protecting interstate commerce, trade efforts and supporting tax credits like the Clean Fuel Production Credit (45Z), which incentivizes production of sustainable aviation fuel with...