Farm Bill 2.0 Hits the Senate Mud Pit

Congress is dusting off Farm Bill 2.0, because apparently one giant policy stew was not enough to keep Washington fed.

Where it stands: Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., says draft text should arrive in June, while markup is now expected after the July 4 recess and before August recess. In other words, the schedule has slipped, but only in the traditional congressional way where everyone calls it progress.

The wrinkle: SNAP is still the sticky spot. States could face more food assistance cost-sharing based on payment error rates, and Democrats are not thrilled with the math homework being assigned. Boozman says negotiators are trying to find a pathway, which is Washington for 'someone please bring a map and maybe a snack.'

Fuel on the side: Year-round E15 is also floating nearby, though Boozman has suggested it may belong in a stand-alone bill rather than the farm bill itself. That means biofuels may be riding shotgun, not driving the tractor.

Why it matters: Farm programs, nutrition policy and conservation updates are all stuck in the same committee traffic jam. Producers need certainty, and Congress is once again proving that certainty is not exactly its cash crop.