Clambering into the driver’s seat of his dependable Ford pickup, Doug Darling navigated his way towards his family’s 1,800 acre pride, a land they’ve farmed in Washtenaw County, Michigan, since 1833. Rolling in with the October breeze is the annual harvest season, a time of bustling activity for Darling and countless fellow farmers nationwide.

On Tuesday afternoon, Darling and his son Dayton were engrossed in reaping soybeans. Despite the slightly irregular start to the season, Darling regarded the scene as “respectable.”

In this rural setting, Darling, at 63, has learned that the whims of the weather dictate their routine. From downpours to sunlight obscured by smoke from Canadian wildfires, the growing season unfolded with the predictability of a roller coaster. But according to Darling, even capricious Mother Nature pales in comparison to the volatility of a Washingtonian politician. “Every farmer should keep an eye on Washington’s happenings” Darling warns as Dayton passed by on their family owned John Deere.

By the end of September, the five year Farm Bill last enacted in 2018 had expired. This crucial legislation routinely passed by Congress funds key programs, including crop insurance for farmers and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps.

Standing on the precipice of uncertainty, Darling expressed his concern about the $1.2 trillion cost of the bill and its delayed passage. The holdup is attributed, in part, to some Republicans, who are advocating for stricter work requirements around SNAP benefits.

Further complicating matters is the turmoil embroiling the House speaker, causing a legislative standstill in Congress. The lack of a fresh Farm Bill exacerbates the uncertainty experienced by the country’s 2 million farmers grappling with an unstable marketplace.

In a reaction to the situation, Jonathan Coppess, a faculty member teaching Agriculture Policy at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, opined, “The indifference of some elected Congress members willing to break things down is astounding.” He cautioned that consistent assault on programs and policies under the guise of anti-government rhetoric leads to a deadlock.

Coppess asserts that amidst the rise in interest rates, high inflation, and a turbulent marketplace, a new Farm Bill could lend a measure of stability to those nurturing the nation’s food supply. But as Coppess states, “Challenges impacting fundamental legislation like the Farm Bill are increasing.”

In the meantime, for farmers like Doug Darling, the pressing task is to complete the harvest before winter’s advent while hoping that the policymakers in Washington navigate the political cacophony and accomplish something productive.