Senator Joni Ernst predicts changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as one of the main reasons the 2023 Farm Bill could reach a record-high cost. Yesterday (Tuesday), Ernst was joined by Iowa 4th District Representative Randy Feenstra as they hosted a roundtable on the upcoming Farm Bill renewal. Agriculture producers in the area, along with ag industry representatives, voiced their opinions on what state leaders should do with the renewal of the bill. Ernst adds that the 2023 Farm Bill’s expected cost is around $1.5 trillion, and about 86 percent is tied into food assistance programs.
Ernst says government officials must align these programs with what middle America expects.
Other topics brought up were the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), crop insurance, and more. Ernst says she sees a problem with CRP and young farmers.
CRP was signed into law by former President Ronald Reagan in 1985 and is one of the most extensive private land conservation programs in the United States. One of the main topics Ernst and Feenstra wanted to discuss was crop insurance, and stakeholders in attendance said the program is working and they do not see any changes needing to be made. Ernst made her comments on Tuesday morning in Audubon at The Feed Mill Restaurant. Full audio from the round table can be found included with this story on our website.
