The bill expands disaster assistance programs, including updates to the Tree Assistance Program for orchards, and adds plant pests to the definition of “natural disaster.” It establishes a framework for USDA to deliver disaster aid to specialty crop producers and creates standing authority for ad-hoc disaster block grants to states.

A contentious issue is pesticide regulation. The House Republican draft would prevent states and courts from penalizing manufacturers for label warnings that exceed EPA health thresholds. Supporters say it ensures regulatory consistency, while critics argue lawsuits are necessary to hold companies accountable.

On conservation, the bill reauthorizes the Conservation Reserve Program at its current 27-million-acre cap and supports voluntary, incentive-based conservation. It protects working lands programs such as EQIP and CSP while promoting precision agriculture and science-based standards.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall praised the draft, citing needed updates to credit, conservation, research and rural development programs, while urging bipartisan action and additional support for farmers facing economic challenges.

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“Farm Bureau applauds the passage of the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act by an exceedingly large margin in the House last night. This legislation will bring meaningful tax relief to our nation’s farmers and ranchers at a time of high interest rates and slim margins. We urge the Senate to act swiftly in adopting this measure, which provides a small amount of certainty as we approach the looming 2025 tax cliff.”

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National Farmers Union President Rob Larew expressed optimism about the bipartisan support, urging Congress to use this momentum to expedite a new farm bill. Larew emphasized the need for clarity for family farmers and ranchers as they plan for the upcoming growing season.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commended the farm bill extension but urged a focus on crafting a new, updated bill. Duvall highlighted the changing landscape since the 2018 bill, citing the pandemic, inflation, and global unrest as factors necessitating a modernized approach.

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) celebrated the extension, emphasizing its importance in sustaining key programs that aid farmers in accessing organic markets and agricultural education. NSAC Policy Director Mike Lavender acknowledged the stability provided by the extension but urged Congress to pass a comprehensive, bipartisan farm bill in early 2024.

House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders noted that the farm bill extension is not a substitute for a five-year farm bill. Lawmakers will continue working towards a more long-term solution. The continuing resolution not only ensures continued 2018 Farm Bill provisions, but also continues funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and allocates resources for other key departments through Jan. 19, 2024.

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“The ruling in Sackett v. EPA was a chance for EPA and the Army Corps to correct a deeply flawed, prematurely released rule and work to truly improve water quality outcomes,” said Ted McKinney, Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. “It is baffling that the revised rule does not accurately address all the issues and questions raised by the Supreme Court in the Sackett decision, nor does it address many of the questions stakeholder groups raised about the WOTUS rule EPA released at the end of last year.”

The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) also expressed disappointment with the revised rule. NCFC cited the latest action as a “missed opportunity” to remedy an issue that has been the source of significant concern and litigation for several years now. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) echoed a similar sentiment.

“EPA had a golden opportunity to write a Waters of the U.S. Rule that’s fair to farmers and stands the test of time, but instead chose to continue government overreach and revise only a small slice of the rule that was rejected by the Supreme Court,” said AFBF President Zippy Duval. “EPA has ignored other clear concerns raised by the Justices, 26 states, and farmers across the country about the rule’s failure to respect private property rights and the Clean Water Act.”

Agricultural Retailers Association President and CEO Daren Coppock also described the new WOTUS rule as a failure in adequately addressing the issues raised over the past several months. “Repeating mistakes will only lead to the continuation of flawed, unworkable regulations that will be litigated in the federal courts,” Coppock noted. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) also confirmed the response of many in the agricultural sector.

“The agency failed to open the process to public comment and engagement, which would have been extremely valuable,” said NCGA President Tom Haag. “Instead, the agency has released a rule that does not fully respect the holdings from the recent U.S. Supreme Court case on WOTUS.”

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