Government Relations & Washington Update
November 2024
Congress Returns for Lame Duck Session
In the wake of the 2024 election, Congress returns to Washington on November 12th with key unfinished business. Addressing appropriations for fiscal year 2025 is high on the list of priorities. The current continuing resolution to fund the federal government expires on December 20th. Congressional leaders will be considering whether to complete funding for the remainder of the fiscal year, or pass another short term resolution pushing final decisions on funding levels to next year with a new Congress and President Trump in power. It is currently unclear which path Congress will take. In addition to appropriations, there will be efforts to pass disaster relief to help those impacted by recent storms and the bridge collapse in Baltimore.
Another key piece of legislation that will need action during the lame duck is the Farm Bill. There is a sense of urgency in farm country for certainty going into a new crop year. Prior to the election, amidst pressure from stakeholders, House and Senate committee leaders met to discuss a potential pathway to move the Farm Bill before the end of the year. Given the results of the election, it is uncertain whether Democrats will be motivated to reach an agreement with Republicans while they still control the Senate, or whether Republicans will prefer to push the debate into 2025 when they have greater control of Congress and the White House. If Congress decides not to complete a new Farm Bill in the lame duck, they will need to pass an extension of the 2018 bill to avoid a reversion to permanent law when the new crop year begins in 2025. It is likely such an extension would cover the full crop year for 2025 to provide certainty and consistency across commodities and also give Congress additional time to complete a new bill in 2025.
Registration Open for USDA’s 101st Agricultural Outlook Forum
On October 31st, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that registration is now open for the 101st Agricultural Outlook Forum. The event, titled “Meeting Tomorrow’s Challenges, Today,” will be held at the Crystal City Gateway Marriott on February 27-28, 2025. Additionally, all Forum sessions will be livestreamed on a virtual platform.
The Forum program will feature a presentation on the 2025 outlook for the U.S. agricultural economy and trade by USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer. The program will also include a plenary panel of distinguished guest speakers, alongside 30 breakout sessions organized by USDA agencies that will explore a wide range of current issues. Over one hundred experts from government, industry, and academia will provide insights on key topics such as commodity and food price forecasts, farm income, U.S. and global agricultural trade, the future of biofuels, climate change strategies, and advancements in biotechnology. The in-person event will also feature exhibit booths by different USDA agencies, providing attendees with information about recent USDA-funded innovations and the Department’s key programs and activities.
ERS to Hold Webinar: Rural America at a Glance, 2024 Edition
In this webinar, ERS Geographer Tracey Farrigan highlights the most recent indicators of social and economic conditions in rural areas, focusing on the age structure of the rural population and the implications of age-related demographic change including rural migration, labor force participation, poverty, childcare, eldercare, and broadband. The USDA's Economic Research Service releases the Rural America at a Glance report annually, which summarizes the status of conditions and trends in rural areas. The webinar will be held at 1pm on Wednesday, November 13th.