The Senate on Tuesday approved a massive farm and agriculture bill, reports The Hill.
Senators voted 87-13 on the legislation, which was unveiled on Monday night after months of closed-door negotiations. The $867 billion bill now heads to the House.
The legislation authorizes agriculture assistance and nutrition programs for the next five years.
The farm bill includes an important provision for grain handlers regarding domestic official grain inspections by providing dozens of grain elevators whose non-use of service/open season exception agreements were revoked by USDA in 2017.
"Under the farm bill language, these elevators will have the option to restore the previous arrangement with their non-incumbent domestic official inspection provider by notifying USDA of the change," says NGFA President and CEO Randy Gordon. "NGFA appreciates the leadership of Reps. Rodney Davis, R-Ill., and Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., to address and clarify Congress's intent in the U.S. Grain Standards Act Reauthorization."
