BISMARCK — Well the time may be here. And what I’m talking about, is it time for farmers and ranchers to take an even more serious evaluation and look at getting away from government programs?
In fact, our delegates at our annual meeting have been very insightful and deliberate in their consideration of policy relating to this. One of the policies which they have developed, states, and I quote, “We encourage farmers to explore their options in order to farm without government programs,” end quote.
That’s pretty insightful, especially with the reductions and proposed budget cuts to USDA and farm programs, and in fact, the new proposed cuts to crop insurance.
Now if there is one part of government programs that our members believe should be the last to be cut, it is the crop insurance. That’s a true partnership between the farmer and rancher and the government. However, that time has come – maybe is here – and our delegates had the insight to say, it’s time to start privatizing and developing a private insurance product. In fact, they developed a policy, and I quote this policy: “We support a private crop insurance option, independent of the federal government,” end quote.
Maybe it is time that we, as farmers and ranchers, push harder to help develop those private options, in the crop insurance. Look for those ways, which some of our members have, and in fact some of our board members have, to farm without the federal government involvement.
And that is what is going to carry agriculture into prosperity in the future. Just as we started in this country in agriculture, it seems we are coming back to.
For questions or comments, please contact Dawn Smith-Pfeifer.
— Daryl Lies, President of North Dakota Farm Bureau
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