As Farm Bill Expires, Davids Calls on Congress to Pass a Bipartisan Reauthorization
Today, as the current Farm Bill officially expires, Representative Sharice Davids urged her colleagues in Congress to come together and pass a new bipartisan Farm Bill that supports Kansas farmers and rural communities. Davids emphasized that inaction is not an option when it comes to securing the future of Kansas agriculture.
“Kansas farmers and ranchers are the backbone of our nation, but without reauthorizing the Farm Bill, we're leaving them and Kansas families in limbo,” said Davids. “There’s too much at stake to play political games — we need a serious, bipartisan bill that strengthens crop insurance, supports agricultural research, and ensures our farmers and families can thrive. I remain committed to following the Kansas tradition of bipartisan agricultural policy and getting this across the finish line.”
Earlier this year, Davids praised several initiatives in the proposed Farm Bill that would strengthen Kansas' agricultural economy, but voted against the partisan version as it had no realistic pathway to becoming law. Davids continues to emphasize the importance of returning to the bipartisan negotiations that have historically shaped the Farm Bill.
To prepare for the Farm Bill reauthorization process, Davids embarked on a Farm Bill listening tour visiting a poultry and livestock operation in Anderson County, a co-op in Franklin County, a goat farm in Miami County, an organic vegetable farm in Johnson County, and an educational community farm in Wyandotte County. Davids also toured a Garnett-based renewable ethanol producer, participated in FFA activities at Spring Hill High School, served a school lunch at Black Bob Elementary in Olathe, spoke with industry leaders on financial support programs for farmers, and toured a dairy farm in Garnett.
While the expiration of the Farm Bill doesn't result in immediate consequences for farmers or food prices, Congress must act by the end of the year to avoid the "dairy cliff," among other impacts. If no action is taken, outdated price controls from decades ago will take effect, leading to significant disruptions in dairy prices. It is crucial for Congress to pass a bipartisan bill to avoid this scenario and provide long-term stability for Kansas' agricultural sector and hardworking families.