Why the Farm Bill Matters to Dairy Farmers

The biggest policy tool for agriculture and food in our country is in limbo. The GOP-controlled House of Representatives failed to pass its version of the $80-billion-a-year Farm Bill.

Conservatives wanted a vote on a hard-line immigration bill first. And for the first time in decades, all Democrats voted no because of changes to food stamps they said would push more than a million people off the rolls.

Senate leaders say they’re close to a bipartisan version of the Farm Bill that doesn’t include the food stamp changes. It remains unclear when the House will return to the legislation.

The delay is bad news for farmers in New York, especially dairy farmers suffering through a fourth straight year of low milk prices.