Tester, Daines Both Back Farm Bill

Q2 reports on a rare display of bipartisanship on Tuesday in Washington D.C. as Montana’s two U.S. Senators said the Senate version of the 2018 Farm Bill looks– so far– like good news for Montana farmers and ranchers, with funding for crop insurance and ag-research stations, as well as some leeway for hemp farming. Montana Republican Sen. Steve Daines said he expects the measure to pass by next week. Incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Tester said he hopes the bill will provide a strong safety net for ag producers, especially in the face of retaliatory tariffs that can drive down commodity prices paid to farmers. Senate passage of the bill would send it back to a House-Senate conference committee to hammer out differences before a final version could reach President Trump’s desk. The current farm bill expires September 30th.