Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 7/27/20

After a wasted week when Republicans and the White House couldn’t unite around a coronavirus relief package, the Senate GOP is looking to roll out its new stimulus plan as soon as today. After that, the real work begins — i.e. difficult negotiations with Democrats — as lawmakers’ summer work calendar rapidly shrinks.

— The lack of consensus on how to address thorny issues like enhanced unemployment benefits and funds for Covid-19 testing means that tens of billions of dollars in extra farm and food aid are also bogged down in the broader dispute.

— What’s on the line? The Senate package is expected to include $20 billion in direct appropriations for farmers and ranchers, on top of the $14 billion in new borrowing authority through the Commodity Credit Corporation that the Agriculture Department could tap to keep sending stimulus checks to producers.

USDA is steaming forward with its other prominent aid program: Secretary Sonny Perdue announced on Friday that the department is extending its food box distribution program through September and October. There’s between $500 million and $700 million remaining for a third round of the program, which has faced growing scrutiny from House Democrats for its reliance on private contractors with little experience in food distribution. (More on that below.)

IF THIS ALL SOUNDS FAMILIAR… It’s because Washington’s coronavirus response remains the No. 1 issue in agriculture policy (and most other areas), and it’s likely to remain so, even as the presidential campaigns shift into a higher gear.

— The ongoing farm rescue efforts have dwarfed other ag items that normally register much higher on the interest scale. Take the fiscal 2021 agriculture spending bill that the House passed on Friday, for one. The measure is typically a venue for fights over some of the biggest food and farm issues each year.

— But the $24 billion legislation skated through the House with almost no resistance and very little debate — which isn’t all that surprising when you consider the amount of money and major policies that Congress and USDA are forking over to farmers, ranchers and hungry families via past and future stimulus measures.

Bottom line: The upcoming economic rescue package is the biggest ball-game in town, and Congress is in late innings with the long August recess coming in hot. (On an unrelated note, your host is happy that baseball is back.)