The Senate’s version of the Farm Bill was released to the public after the Ag Committee hashed out some final details on Thursday. Republican and Democratic aides told the Hagstrom Report that it’s bipartisan, budget-neutral, and is intended to provide certainty and predictability for the nation’s farmers. American producers have suffered a 52 percent drop in income and a 40 percent drop in commodity prices for the past five years. One aide said to the Hagstrom Report that, “The text shows that the chair and the ranking member have a partnership that is deep, and it shows that Democrats and Republicans can work together to put together big impactful legislation.” The bill is titled the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018. Its intention is to improve on a range of farm programs and tighten up integrity in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. However, the bill’s provisions are undramatic when compared to past farm bills. It sits in stark contrast to the House version of the farm bill, due for another vote on June 22. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says his intention is to pass the bill on the Senate floor before the July 4th recess.
