Texas farmers tepidly celebrated last month after Congress barely managed to extend a package of laws meant to aid the nation’s agriculture industry and feed low-income Americans.
The clock is now ticking for federal lawmakers to pass a new, updated version of that legislation.
Farmers, ranchers, and agriculture organizations from all corners of Texas and across the U.S. pleaded with federal lawmakers for at least two years to update the constellation of policies — often called the farm bill — that provide crop insurance, food assistance and rural infrastructure programs.
Instead, the divided Congress gave itself nine more months to broker a deal that has long been considered “must-pass” legislation, with no clear path toward compro