The Senate Agriculture Committee Thursday announced it will consider the Senate version of the farm bill next week. Markup of the bill is planned for Wednesday, at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time. The bipartisan bill, according to committee leaders, will “provide much-needed certainty” for farmers and ranchers. The bill could be passed by the Senate by the end of this month. Senate leader Mitch McConnell has previously said that he would like to pass the farm bill before the Senate goes on the Independence Day recess.
The timeline of the farm bill is less certain in the House of Representatives, however. House Agriculture Committee Chair Mike Conaway had targeted a late June date for reconsideration of the bill after the chamber voted it down last month. Republican lawmakers who demanded a vote on immigration pulled the bill to failure, but Republicans began discussing immigration issues this week, providing renewed farm bill optimism.