Lack Of A Farm Bill Remains Top Concern For NFU

National Farmers Union recently held their annual legislative fly-in to Washington, D.C.  One of the top concerns that members raised was the continued lack of a farm bill.

“Farmers Union members from across the country shared their stories about how the farm economy is," said Mike Stranz NFU vice president of advocacy.  "If it isn't in a crisis, it's well on its way to one. Right now, the economic indicators are not looking good. There are alarm bells sounding and lights flashing on the dashboard, so to speak, when it comes to the farm economy. We shared a lot of stories and statistics about how that is shaping up and how it is impacting Farmers Union members at their farms and their communities around the country.”

What Would NFU Members Like In A Farm Bill?

Stranz said the NFU is pushing for local food procurement agreements in the Farm Bill.

“Earlier this year, we spent a lot of time talking about the funding freezes and program cuts that happened right at the beginning of the Trump administration," Stranz said.  "There was, for instance, a very popular program that we heard a lot about from farmers across the country that helped local farmers connect with institutions and community organizations and schools to sell produce and farm products locally, which was cut and eliminated at the beginning of the administration.”

He noted there are bills in both the House and Senate aimed at ensuring farmers receive a larger share of the retail dollar by channeling more of their food directly into local communities and institutions.

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