Ag Matters: Farm Bill Passes Committee Leaving Prop 12 Fight for Senate

The Senate Agriculture Committee has advanced its version of the Farm Bill on a 12-to-11 party-line vote, but a dispute over California’s Proposition 12 remains unresolved. Iowa Senator Joni Ernst unsuccessfully pushed to add language addressing the issue before the vote. She tells Chairman John Boozman that farmers need relief from a growing patchwork of state production standards.

Boozman argued the amendment process had already ended and said the committee was focused on moving the bill forward.

Ernst strongly disagreed, arguing the committee should have allowed a vote on a bipartisan Proposition 12 compromise. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley backed her effort.

Grassley also expressed frustration that other issues, including the Packers and Stockyards Act, were not up for discussion. While Proposition 12 was left out of the committee-approved Farm Bill, supporters say they’ll continue pressing for a fix when the legislation reaches the full Senate.