It’s now up to the Senate to reappoint conferees and request farm bill negotiations with the House – but it could be days or weeks before actual negotiations. The good news is the Senate may now have a dance partner – as the House reassembled its farm-only farm bill and controversial food stamp bill Saturday. The bad news – the current farm bill extension has just expired. The House and Senate farm bills both protect and enhance crop insurance as a key safety net tool – but the House cuts 10-times as much in food stamp spending. The Senate quickly ditched the House bill and was expected to send the Senate bill back to the House – requesting negotiations.

Programs impacted by the farm bill expiration include CRP, the Conservation Stewardship Program, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, the Emerging Markets Program, the Market Access Program and the Foreign Market Development Program.  ASA President Danny Murphy says the expiration of funding for the Market Access Program and the Foreign Market Development Program will bring immediate and harsh consequences for the soy industry. He says the U.S. Soybean Export Council and the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health – the overseas market development arms of ASA – count on critical funds from both programs to operate offices and carry out demand building work around the globe. Without funds from USDA's Foreign Agriculture Service – Murphy says the industry will be forced to discontinue program activities.

Now up to the Senate