Skye Witley

The title-by-title framework reveals more detail about how House Agriculture Chairman GT Thompson (R-Pa.) plans to fund key nutrition and conservation programs that have divided political parties.

The Republican-led House and Democrat-led Senate have until Sept. 30 to reach a compromise on the legislation.

The plan from Senate Republicans includes priorities Democrats have labeled “poison pills,” diminishing the odds that lawmakers can finalize a farm bill before funding for some programs begins to expire.

House appropriators advanced a spending bill Wednesday that would cut the Agriculture Department’s budget by $308 million if enacted in its current form.

Farmers and producers are poised to receive $300 million in US Agriculture Department grants to promote their exports in growing consumer markets, but a Republican proposal in the farm bill could complicate the program’s funding down the road, according to one official.

As Congress returns, lawmakers face fresh calls to boost funding for agricultural research and support programs that for years have steadily dwindled. It comes as critical research facilities are falling apart and scientists say climate change is amplifying the threat of invasive pests.

Two sources familiar with the discussions confirmed the four top Senate and House agriculture leaders plan to meet before Friday, but a specific time has yet to be confirmed.

President-elect Donald Trump faces limits on his ability to make farmers whole in a trade war under farm legislation Congress is considering.

Two Democrats are racing to lead their cohort in the House Agriculture Committee, a key position in the negotiation of a more than trillion-dollar farm bill that’s likely to stretch into next year.

President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Agriculture Department, Brooke Rollins, will spend the coming months making herself and her priorities better known to Congress and the agriculture industry.