After several months of anticipation, Senate Ag Committee Chair John Boozman has released a 900-page draft farm bill for discussion. Brian Glenn, director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said the text contains important policy updates.

"Increased loan limits and enhanced financing options for farmers and ranchers, which certainly is important," Glenn said. "Additionally, significant investments in specialty crops across several titles to help ensure specialty crop growers have access to a wider range of tools. The bill enhances and streamlines conservation programs that farmers rely on."

Glenn said it is critical for Congress to get a farm bill done this year, but there are still several steps left in the process.

"The chairman welcomes feedback from stakeholders on this draft, and there will be continued negotiations and discussion among Senate Ag committee members," Glenn said. "This will lead into a markup of the bill in the Senate Ag Committee, which Chairman Boozman has said should occur before Congress embarks on our August recess."

Glenn notes that the draft bill is still missing some key Farm Bureau priorities.

"We are also calling on Congress to deliver on priorities that are not included in this discussion draft, including providing economic aid to help farmers handle historic inflation, protecting interstate commerce from a patchwork of state laws, and approving the sale of E15-blended fuel year-round," Glenn said.

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