It may seem like the last farm bill process just ended, because it did only two years ago, but already farm state legislators and agricultural organizations are looking ahead to starting the 2018 Farm Bill negotiations. Bob Redding of The Redding Group, who represents peanut farmers on Capitol Hill, talked about the preparations for 2018 at the 2016 Southern Peanut Growers Conference this past weekend.
“We’re wrapping up with the 2014 farm bill as far as any regulations that were outstanding and now we’re moving into prep for the 2018 bill,” says Redding. “So in 2017, farm groups will start with their policy process, you’ll have hearings and we’ll begin the 2018 farm bill process.”
Redding says the next farm bill will be negotiated in a different economic climate for agriculture. “We drafted (the current) farm bill with high prices. That does change the dynamics. That’s likely not going to be the case this time,” said Redding. “I do think there will be a more pragmatic, realistic approach to a farm safety net.”
In this interview, Redding also discusses what hasn’t worked so well in the current farm bill and what splitting the farm and nutrition titles of the bill could mean for agriculture. Interview with Bob Redding, The Redding Group