Key democrats are pushing for the bill to be passed AND drought provisions are INCLUDED.

DROUGHT HEARING: The Senate Ag subcommittee on conservation, climate, forestry and natural resources will focus on federal drought investments this week during a trip this week to Colorado and Kansas.

In the farm bill: Key Senate Democrats have been pushing in public and private for months to boost investments in the farm bill for ag producers facing severe drought, especially in the West.

One Senate Ag Democrat told us earlier this year that committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and her team have always been “willing to listen” to calls for more funding to address the impacts of devastating and widespread drought. But the senator said they hope “there’s an understanding of the policy ramifications” if their farm bill plans don’t do enough.

Lawmakers like vulnerable incumbent Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) have been pushing for Senate Democrats to put more funding behind drought programs.

Some have also called on the Biden administration to expand strict climate guardrails around billions in agriculture funding from the Inflation Reduction Act so the money can be more easily spent on drought mitigation efforts.

Subcommittee plans: As heat is scorching a huge part of the country and lawmakers push to address the shrinking amount of water in many states, Senate Ag leaders are soliciting feedback from western producers on problems with current federal drought programs during a subcommittee field hearing Wednesday.

In an interview with MA, subcommittee Chair Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) said Stabenow has incorporated a “huge amount” of drought improvements in her farm bill plans. But there are a few programs he’d like to see bolstered, like groundwater easement programs he’s pitched.

Bennet told MA it’d be a “shame” to not get a farm bill done this year and give producers more “predictability” in the face of high input costs and challenging drought conditions. He’s been vocal about drought provisions in the farm bill and led a letter earlier this year to Stabenow to include drought funding.