WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today announced the Senate approved the Conference Report for the Farm Bill, bringing certainty and predictability one step closer for the nation’s farmers and ranchers. The Senate passed the conference report, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 with a vote of 87-13.

For audio and video of the Chairman’s remarks go here.

The House of Representatives is set to debate and vote on the Conference Report as early as Wednesday.

Earlier today President Donald Trump signaled his support for the bill when he told reporters, "We think the Farm Bill is in very good shape. Our farmers are well taken care of. Again, that'll be quite bipartisan."

The following are Senator Roberts’ remarks, as prepared, upon Senate passage of the report:

“The goal, the responsibility, the absolute requirement is to provide farmers, ranchers, growers and everyone within America’s agriculture and food value chain certainty and predictability during these very difficult times.   

“This Farm Bill meets the needs of producers across all regions and all crops.   

“And, it ensures that our voluntary conservation programs are keeping farm land in operation while protecting our agriculture lands, forests, and other natural resources.   

“The bill focuses on program integrity and commonsense investments to strengthen our nutrition programs to ensure the long-term success of those in need of assistance.   

“And, with trade and market uncertainty, to say the least, it provides certainty for our trade promotion and research programs. 

“Feeding an increasing global population is not simply an agriculture challenge, it is a national security challenge.   

“This means we need to grow more and raise more with fewer resources.  That will take investments in research, new technology, lines of credit, and proper risk management.  It takes the government providing tools, and then getting out of the producer’s way.  

“Organizations representing thousands of agriculture, food, nutrition, hunger, forestry, conservation, rural, business, faith-based, research, and academic interests have issued statements supporting the conference report. 

“This is what happens when the Congress works in a bipartisan, bicameral fashion.  This is a good bill that accomplishes what we set out to do – provide certainty and predictability for farmers, families, and rural communities.? 

“We have made tough choices, being judicious with the scarce resources we have on behalf of the taxpayer.   

“This may not be the best possible bill.  But, it is the best bill possible under these circumstances. And, importantly, it provides our farmers, ranchers and other rural stakeholders much needed certainty and predictability. 

For more information on the provisions in the bill go here.

This is Chairman Roberts’ eighth Farm Bill, and will be his second to be signed into law as a Chairman. Senator Roberts is the first member of Congress to chair both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees.