WPC: We’re Not Opposed To Crop Insurance

Crop insurance and farm subsidies may sound like simple topics to discuss in the agriculture community, but you'll quickly learn it's anything but simple.  The Washington Policy Center recently held their Solutions Summit in Spokane, where they focused on those two  issues which are key during a Farm Bill year.

Madi Clark says following the event, some in the Ag community claimed the WPC is opposed to crop insurance and all other forms of farm subsidies.  Clark says that’s not true.  She points out that subsidies is a polarizing issue, even among Northwest farmers and growers.

“There are some that adamantly support it, there are some who adamantly oppose government programs, at Washington Policy Center, we think there needs to be kind of that middle ground.”

But, is the Washington Policy Center opposed to crop insurance, which so many growers depend on year after year?  Clark says no.

“We have written on blogs, and we have shared our opinion that there needs to be some sort of program, some sort of safety net, and even if you go back a couple of weeks ago, we say that there needs to be crop insurance, but there can be reforms, to the crop insurance program.”

Clark acknowledged during the Solution Summit in Spokane, they had several experts on their panel opposed to the current structure of subsidies and crop insurance.  But she says those organizations in favor chose not to participate in the panel discussion.

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