The latest farm bill largely will retain programs as they already are, sidestepping a House proposal to place work requirements on SNAP, the food assistance program. 

The legislation is always contentious and complicated. Here is a collection of articles that could help sort out the latest proposal, which could see congressional action this week.

AgriPulse: “The bill will preserve the structure of the 2014 farm bill with a variety of enhancements to a variety of programs, including the major commodity programs for row crops and milk, as well as expand the Conservation Reserve Program and provide new funding for fighting animal diseases.”

House and Senate news release: “We’re pleased to announce that we’ve reached an agreement in principle on the 2018 Farm Bill. We are working to finalize legal and report language as well as [Congressional Budget Office] scores, but we still have more work to do. We are committed to delivering a new farm bill to America as quickly as possible.”

Washington Post editorial: The Post’s editorial contends lawmakers wisely sidestepped work requirements for food aid recipients, but broadened — rather than reined in — subsidies for farm families. 

In other farm news, the administration is expected this week to release the latest “waters of the states” rule, which is expected to remove many ephemeral waterways and wetlands from federal jurisdiction.