AFBF: Farmers Need To Stress Importance Of Disaster Relief During Easter Break

The American farming community has been hit and hit hard.  Not just by low commodity prices and trade wars, but by Mother Nature.

Farmers nationwide are dealing with the aftermath of floods, snow, wind, drought and other types of weather problems, and the American Farm Bureau says those producers need help.  Paul Schlegel, AFBF vice president of public affairs, says farmers and ranchers have an opportunity to tell lawmakers to approve disaster assistance immediately.

“There’s probably a conviction on both sides of the isle that something needs to be done, but there’s some political gamesmanship going back and forth that’s prevented us from getting something sent to the President. So, Farm Bureau, over the recess now, we’ve asked all of our members when they can connect with lawmakers to tell them the time for politics has passed, we have to get this thing done because there are too many farmers hurting.”

Schlegel said a congressional recess is the perfect time to connect with lawmakers.

“If a lawmaker is back in their home state or their congressional district, they can see for themselves firsthand the devastation a lot of people are facing. We want to take advantage of that circumstance to make sure they know we can’t wait any longer.”

Schlegel says the message to lawmakers should be clear, AFBF supports House Bill 2157, and they want to see a legislative disaster package enacted as swiftly.

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