WASHINGTON — Editor’s note: The following statements have been released by the National Farmers Union and American Farm Bureau Federation concerning the Senate’s draft release of the “Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018,” commonly refered to as the farm bill.
NFU Appreciates Senate Ag Leadership Work on Farm Bill
More Needs to Be Done to Shore Up Farm Safety Net, Says NFU
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee leadership today released draft text of a new farm bill. National Farmers Union president Roger Johnson issued the following statement in response to the draft text:
“Farmers Union appreciates the hard work of Chairman Roberts and Ranking Member Stabenow to develop a farm bill that improves our food system and the lives of all Americans.
“There hasn’t been a more turbulent time for family farmers in thirty years—significantly depressed farm prices, domestic market uncertainty, distressed trade relations, and increasingly devastating weather events have created a fraught and stressful climate in agriculture. Times like these require the certainty of a farm bill and an adequate safety net for family farmers.
“The Senate’s draft text of the 2018 Farm Bill makes significant improvements over the current version of the House bill. Nonetheless, we will encourage the Senate to make important improvements to the farm safety net and to programs that enhance long-term sustainability and access to markets for family farmers and ranchers.”
Farm Bureau Applauds Senate Release of Farm Bill and Scheduled Markup
WASHINGTON, June 8, 2018 – The following statement regarding release of the Senate Farm Bill may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. The Senate Agriculture Committee is scheduled to hold a markup of the bill next week.
“America’s farmers and ranchers are facing an economic storm across the countryside, so the release today of the Senate Farm Bill is a crucial step to move the very important farm bill process forward. Farm income is at a decade low. Farm debt is on the rise and international markets for our farm goods are in jeopardy. The Senate Agriculture Committee, led by Chairman Pat Roberts and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, have worked hard to address those economic challenges and assemble a bipartisan bill that provides the clarity, policy certainty and vital risk protection tools that our farmers need now more than ever. We look forward to next week’s markup of the bill and to working with the Senate to move this farm bill forward. It is important that the Senate bill strike a balance that will help set the overall congressional tone for getting the farm bill done this year.”
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