Farm Bill

This Veterans Day also marks a special day for Duckworth, a veteran herself — who’s celebrating the 20-year anniversary of surviving being severely injured in the line of duty.

Congress ended mandatory labeling for pork and beef in 2015. Now, some livestock groups want to see labeling requirements included in the upcoming farm bill that would make it clear where livestock was born, raised and slaughtered.

The overdue farm bill is finally making its way through Congress, after the House agriculture committee recently advanced a proposal. Food assistance is likely to be one of the biggest sticking points as the draft moves forward.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — the food program for low-income individuals — has become one of the hottest topics in farm bill negotiations, as congressional Republicans seek more changes.

Speaking to Missouri farmers during a roundtable discussion Friday, Arkansas Sen. John Boozman said he’d like to consider a one-year extension to pass the bill.

Hemp industry leaders, state marijuana regulators and members of Congress all seem to agree the feds should regulate CBD — but the standoff is over intoxicating hemp products.

Farmers say Title One — a farm bill program that sends money when crop prices or harvests get low enough — isn’t working as a buffer against tough years. Yet others argue the nearly 100-year-old safety net is costing billions of dollars with few strings attached.

The leaders of both congressional agriculture committees say federal lawmakers will move back farm bill negotiations to December. The current law expires Saturday, but experts say there should be little peril despite the blown deadline.

Federally subsidized crop insurance made record-high payouts last year. While climate change is making farming more risky, the federal program often shields producers at taxpayer expense. Some argue it’s time that the fast-growing program encourages farmers to mitigate their risks.

The consensus of agricultural economists is that crop prices, especially for corn, soybeans and cotton, will go down this year. The cost of farming is also expected to go down but not as much.