Senator Stabenow’s climate-focused farm bill faces uphill battle in Congress

Senator Debbie Stabenow introduced a farm bill emphasizing climate-smart agriculture and rural development, but partisan disagreements may block its passage.

Frida Garza reports for Grist.


In short:

  • Senator Debbie Stabenow unveiled a farm bill proposing funding for climate-resilient agricultural practices and rural development.
  • The bill faces opposition from Republicans, who prefer an extension of the current farm bill, delaying substantive updates.
  • Agriculture industry groups, including livestock producers, have criticized the bill for failing to meet their priorities, such as addressing California’s Prop. 12 animal welfare law.

Key quote:

“How many once-in-a-generation storms or droughts need to hit our farmers over the head before we take this crisis seriously?”

— Senator Debbie Stabenow

Why this matters:

The U.S. farm bill shapes agricultural policy, nutrition programs and rural development nationwide. Stabenow’s version aims to address climate impacts on farming, but partisan divisions could leave farmers without updated resources as climate challenges grow.

Related: Lawmakers clash over environmental regulations in stalled farm bill

aerial view of Louisiana Delta
Getty Images For Unsplash+

Supreme Court to hear case on Louisiana’s eroding coast

Local governments are suing oil companies over environmental damage. The companies want the suits moved out of state courts, to friendlier venues.
Oil barrels on background of the flags of Venezuela and USA.
Photo credit: Copyright: Yakobchuk/ BigStock Photo ID: 455109239

Big Oil knows that Trump’s Venezuela plans are delusional

The president’s thinking is stuck in the 1980s.
A businessman handing US hundred dollar bill over to another businessman

How Chevron played the long game in Venezuela

Chevron met with Trump and spent millions lobbying him to continue operating in Venezuela. Now it is uniquely positioned to profit from that.
A truck drives down a muddy road next to aging oil pumps

Satellite images reveal Venezuela’s massive methane problem

Satellite images show huge volumes of methane leaking from Venezuela’s aging oil and gas infrastructure, revealing both a major climate liability and billions of dollars in wasted fuel.

Indigenous protesters take part on a demonstration at COP30 in Belém, Brazil
Photo by Dado Galdieri/CIFOR-ICRAF Creative Commons: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Australia’s Cop31 chief negotiator plans to lobby petrostates on fossil fuel phaseout

Exclusive: Chris Bowen says key to next UN climate summit will be ‘engagement, engagement, engagement’ with countries such as Saudi Arabia.

A aerial view of water, snow, and forested land

Sinking trees in Arctic Ocean could remove 1 billion tons of CO2

Sinking felled boreal trees in the Arctic Ocean could remove up to 1 billion tons of CO₂ yearly, but risks harming Arctic ecosystems.

A puppy with its face in a dog bowl

Carbon pawprint: Your dog’s dinner may have a greater climate impact than your own

"Premium" dog foods that use large amounts of prime meat are pushing up emissions, a new study warns.
From our Newsroom
Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro speaks with the state flag and American flag behind him.

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

silhouette of people holding hands by a lake at sunset

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

Stay informed: sign up for The Daily Climate newsletter
Top news on climate impacts, solutions, politics, drivers. Delivered to your inbox week days.