Irrigation Association Keeping A Close Eye On Farm Bill Progress

Commodity groups and Ag Policy organizations have kept a close eye on development of the 2018 Farm Bill.  The Irrigation Association is one of those groups watching the process closely.  Julie Bushell chairs the Irrigation Association’s Government Affairs Committee.  She said people might be surprised at just how important the farm bill is to her group.

“EQIP funds to go to irrigators, and the irrigation association had a huge win this year, our last fly in to D.C., speaking to representatives the House draft had our words, our language, and our requests in the Farm Bill, we are waiting to see the final language, of this final bill that will go to the President.”

Bushell said she is hopeful that some of that language in the House version makes it to the final draft.  Why is the EQIP Program is so important to the Irrigation Association?

“It incentives them to invest in technology, for productivity really, so, more crop per drop, and the technologies that members of the irrigation association develop and sell allow that to happen.”

Bushell noted the association would like to see some improvements to EQIP in the next Farm Bill, specifically aimed at increasing productivity.

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