WORTHINGTON, Ohio — While visiting a farm in Illinois last week, President Joe Biden announced his administration’s plan to support American farmers by implementing new organizational flexibilities through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). These updates, which contain a long-term priority of the Ohio Soybean Association to support double-crop soybeans in Ohio, include:
- Increasing the number of counties eligible for double cropping insurance. The Biden-Harris Administration is seeking to expand insurance for double cropping to as many as 681 additional counties, bringing the total number of counties where this practice qualifies for crop insurance to as many as 1,935. This means that more farmers will have the financial protection to start or expand their double-cropping practices.
- Cutting costs for farmers by increasing technical assistance for technology-driven “precision agriculture” and other nutrient management tools. USDA has planning and cost-sharing assistance programs available to help American farmers with nutrient management. The Administration is working to boost outreach to farmers, streamline the application process, and prioritize application approvals to expand access to these critical programs.
- Doubling funding for domestic fertilizer production. Fertilizer prices have more than doubled since last year, due in part to supply chain disruptions created and exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including rising energy costs. Today, President Biden announced that he is doubling his initial $250 million investment in domestic fertilizer production to $500 million to lower costs and boost availability for farmers, so they can obtain the inputs they need at prices they can afford to maximize yields.
Staff from OSA joined ASA in meeting with USDA and the Risk Management Agency last week to discuss the double-cropping expansion.
“We were pleased to hear the president’s announcement, particularly the provisions about double cropping,” said OSA President and soybean farmer Patrick Knouff of Shelby County. “Ohio has long pushed for this kind of expansion to assist farmers in starting or expanding double cropping. We insisted an expansion like this needed to be a priority during our policy resolution session at Commodity Classic, so it has been rewarding to see that work pay off for Ohio farmers.”
About OSA
The Ohio Soybean Association is governed by a volunteer farmer board dedicated to education and promotion, as well as to uniting producer interest through support of legislative activities beneficial to the Ohio soybean industry. www.soyohio.org/membership.
— Ohio Soybean Association