Farm Leaders Call For More In Farm Bill Not Less

Farm leaders say, getting more money for the 2018 farm bill will be a big challenge.  But, they urge producers to hang together or end up getting less government support.  American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall recently told the farm bill summit sponsored by Agri-Pulse, that after losing half its income in the last four years, agriculture needs more, not less help.  Duvall added the biggest problems with the 2018 Farm Bill, and even the 2022 Farm Bill will be resources.

“The baseline that the CBO has, is not enough to actually have a good safety net for the food security of our country.  And that’s why at American Farm Bureau we’re asking for increases, in the baseline so that we can build a true farm bill that helps us through the next four years after this one starts.”

Former Deputy Ag Secretary and now head of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives Chuck Conner said farmers will lose if the agriculture community is argumentative and indifferent.

"And I would argue that we were probably that in 2014, then these groups will have a void to fill, and they will fill that void  and they will have success in altering part of Risk Management, crop insurance, farm payments etc.”

But Conner argues producers, not non-farm groups, “control that destiny,” arguing history shows, you can have a good farm bill in tough budget years.

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