Rural-Urban Coalition Key to Overcoming Budgetary, Political Obstacles

The outcome of Farm Bills is driven by three factors: the state of the farm economy, the budget and politics. The 2018 Farm Bill debate will be no different.

Entering the fourth year of declining net farm income, likely no new budget resources, and narrow Republican majorities in Congress set the stage for a lengthy Farm Bill debate.

Having said that, I’m optimistic we will complete a Farm Bill by fall 2018. The key is to rekindle the rural-urban coalition through strong support for America’s farmers and ranchers while including key nutrition programs for low income Americans, including SNAP.

– Randy Russell, The Russell Group