FRANKFORT, Ky. — While the U.S. Senate passed a farm bill in somewhat speedy fashion, the House has been slower to respond. In fact, the likelihood of a bill passing before the November elections seems unlikely.

This comes on the heels of one of the worst growing seasons in recent memory. Agriculture agencies all over the country are encouraging legislators to act but the best the House has done so far is to pass the Agricultural Disaster Assistance Act of 2012, which is supposed to help with problems caused by this year’s drought – if the Senate would pass it, too.

The current farm bill will expire at the end of this month, and many groups expect a last-minute extension. A rally was held at the Capitol last week, with farmers and ranchers calling for Congress to take action sooner rather than later.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman emceed the rally. “Perhaps never in the history of farm legislation have so many diverse farmer and rancher voices joined together for such a common call for action on a farm bill,” he said. “All of us gathered here today also share one resounding and common message, Congress, for our farm and ranch families, their communities and our nation: Pass the farm bill, now.”

The Farm Bill Now Coalition makes the argument the legislation touches more than just farmers: “It provides healthy foods to millions of schoolchildren and nutritious options to families in need. It develops and expands trade with valuable foreign markets … the farm bill affects our nation’s ability to provide the necessities of life for a global population projected to pass nine billion by 2050. Here at home, it affects an industry that provides 23 million (jobs), or one in every 12 American jobs.”

Closer to home, U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) said, “As most farmers know, the current farm bill is set to expire at the end of the month. My colleagues and I have long been discussing the path forward and how to best provide certainty for our nation’s farmers. The recent drought, coupled with current times of economic hardship, have made it difficult for farmers to succeed and plan ahead.

“My top priority in Congress is to help instill a pro-growth economic agenda that will create certainty. Farmers play a key role in that agenda, and it is imperative that Congress act on legislation to do just that. I am currently working with my colleagues to bring legislation to the floor that will, among other things, help protect crop insurance and strengthen the agricultural community.

“We must look out for our nation’s farmers, for they are the backbone of our country’s domestic food production,” he added.

Mark Haney, president of the Kentucky Farm Bureau, doesn’t expect any action on the bill before the election, for a number of reasons. One is the issue of time left to pass any bill; another is that action on elected officials’ part could affect the presidential campaign or any of the Congressional races.

“If they wait and try and do something in the lame duck (period), I think that will be problematic in my opinion, as well,” he said. “At this point we’ve been trying to take more of a bipartisan approach to get agriculture where it needs to be.”

Haney believes legislation is headed toward an extension of the 2008 farm bill. “Some people really want for that not to happen, and American Farm Bureau is certainly one of those,” he said.

“They have been involved in this Farm Bill Now approach with a great number of ag organizations across the country trying to put the emphasis on ‘get the farm bill, the quicker the better.’ There is obviously a good argument for that, but realistically, I just don’t think that’s going to happen.”

In fact, Haney is afraid by the Sept. 30 deadline, neither the farm bill, any drought assistance package nor an extension will be in place. 

He noted that this isn’t anything that hasn’t happened before, with short-term extensions passed before until something could be worked out.

For those wishing to hear more about the farm bill and other ag issues, Guthrie is hosting the Western Kentucky Agriculture Awareness Forum, where Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer will serve as a guest speaker. It will be Sept. 27 at the Daviess County Lions Club Fairgrounds, 6191 Highway 54 in Philpot. The forum will go from 8-10 a.m. and is open to the public.