By Mark Moran
Iowa family farmers say the House version of the federal farm bill favors corporate agriculture interests over smaller operations.
The farm bill is supposed to be updated every five years, but the current version has been in place since 2018. It is among the largest and most sweeping pieces of legislation Congress takes on.
Angela Huffman, co-founder and president of Farm Action, said the House proposal continues what she called a disturbing trend of favoring large, factory-style producers over small, independent operations. She said local farms remain important to the nation’s food supply.
“A Farm Bill really needs to shift power back into the hands of farmers to grow healthy foods, and not lock in more advantages for the largest corporations,” Huffman said.
As it stands, the bill channels commodity and disaster funds to large agricultural operations and away from smaller ones. It also cuts $187 billion from food and nutrition assistance programs, including SNAP.
The Senate could consider the measure this month.
The proposal also overrides state agricultural laws that allow farmers to raise healthier animals and ask higher prices. Huffman said the so-called Save Our Bacon Act, included in the House farm bill, favors international producers such as China-based Smithfield Farms over independent farms, even in their local markets.
“Until Congress really deals with monopoly power, farmers are gonna keep being told to get bigger or get out, take on more debt, accept worse prices, and consumers will pay the price for it,” Huffman said.
Iowa farmers also are navigating tariffs imposed by the Trump administration that have made exporting their products more difficult. They also face rising prices for tools and machinery needed to grow and produce their crops.
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