Opposition to moving the Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture out of Washington, D.C., continues to mount, with the National Farmers Union the latest to voice concern about USDA's proposal.

Some Republicans say the best thing Congress could do to help farmers withstand the turmoil in trade policy is to pass a new farm bill. But economists say the legislation is unlikely to offer much relief to farmers, especially soybean growers, even if commodity prices don’t recover from their current tariff-induced slump.

The Republican chairman and the top Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee hope to release a draft of their farm bill this week, and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell promises to move it quickly to the floor.

Sometimes, in order to get what you want, you have to give a little. In the case of the latest consolidation in the agriculture sector, Bayer will have to give a lot to get much more.

If Congress wants to boost the farm economy and rural development, university researchers say the upcoming farm bill needs to focus on farmers’ and ranchers’ urgent healthcare needs.