Yakym: Farm Bill Extension Likely
Published: Friday, August 30, 2024
Rep. Rudy Yakym (R-Ind.) visited Tom Farms in Leesburg last Tuesday to discuss the farm bill and agricultural research and development with Kip Tom, former ambassador to the U.N. agencies for food and agriculture. Also attending were farmers and industry stakeholders.
"We may have to do another extension going into 2025," Yakym said, referring to the farm bill. "But, from my vantage point, that would be a 'yes' vote today on the House bill as it is currently drafted simply because we were able to get all of our priorities in there that we heard from our farmers."
One thing that is holding up the Senate, Yakym said, is the amount the Senate Ag Committee wants to put into the Nutrition Title. Some members of the committee want to add a significant amount to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
On the other end, Yakym said some in the agricultural community want to separate the Nutrition Title from the rest of the farm bill completely. He said he does not want this for two reasons: the Nutrition Title is what is keeping the farm bill bipartisan and because the majority of Indiana agriculturalists say it is important to keep it in.
"Right now, from the House perspective, it's out of the committee and we've got some level of bipartisanship. But it has to be broader for the farm bill to pass," Yakym said when asked if there was any hope the farm bill would pass in 2024. He added that this possibility is very slim.
One title he is looking to grow is the Agriculture Research and Development Title.
"The research and development piece here cannot be understated," Yakym said. "And this is why we've added so much to that title."
The House bill allots an increase of $3.4 billion in agricultural research and development. He hopes to see at least that much in the Senate bill.
"I think the R&D Title cannot be underestimated. We have to be a leader on R&D here in this country, because we have to continue to grow our yields and get the most we can out of our ground," Yakym said.
He added that research and development is a three-way partnership between the universities, the private sector and the government.
"It takes all three of those working together in unison for us to get where we ultimately need to go from an R&D perspective," he said. "What is really impactful on the R&D dollars and agriculture is that you can see a direct and immediate impact."
On a global scale, Yakym said research and development investments and advances can be used to fight hunger worldwide.
"When we haven't made the investments in R&D to make sure that they aren't food insecure, that they aren't starving, you end up with situations where people go to war with each other," Yakym said. "They fight each other, they kill each other, they bulldoze each other's nations over this kind of stuff. They take over each other's villages. And then, downrange, the United States gets drawn into the conflict. Or we have to support one side or the other somehow, and it's far more expensive for us to get involved in a conflict downrange, both in terms of real dollars and in lives."
"We should help feed the world, but we should also help other countries feed themselves," he added.
Kip Tom added that ag research and development is key to keeping the U.S. among the top global leaders.
"We have to be a food secure nation," he said. One way he said this can be accomplished is by putting more farm in the farm bill, specifically in agricultural research and development.
At the end of the discussion, the floor was opened up for questions. Indiana Beef Cattle Assn. President Kelley Sheiss asked how research and development dollars can empower those who use SNAP dollars to be able to afford their food and address the stigma against agriculture in the public.
Yakym said it is important to incorporate a work requirement for federal programs such as SNAP to boost affordability. Kip Tom added that education is key to address stigma against agriculture and agricultural research.
Other questions included how small producers and meat packers can gain agricultural grants and how Hoosiers can ensure that agricultural research is productive.
Yakym said anyone applying for a grant should reach out to their legislators, who will advocate on their behalf. He added that it is important to make sure that all agricultural research is getting results, and if they are not, that researchers move on.
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