The House of Representatives floor rejected the proposed new farm bill on Friday, May 18, 2018. The bill was written with the intent to focus conservation dollars on environmentally sensitive land in order to help farmers and ranchers achieve better soil health and water quality, as well as improving access to land and USDA resources for beginning farmers. Democrats unanimously voted against the bill, joined by 30 Republicans. The continued bipartisan tension regarding immigration policy also influenced the bill’s fate.
The future of the farm bill hinges on negotiations in the House to design a passable bill that benefits all parties, hopefully before the expiration of the current farm bill in September