WASHINGTON, D.C. — At the invitation of U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Kansas wheat farmer David Schemm, of Sharon Springs, Tuesday offered his testimony on the value of risk management to his operation and on behalf of the National Association of Wheat Growers.
“David offered valuable testimony to our Committee, powerfully conveying the value of crop insurance, especially given the blizzards, freeze, hail, and disease in western Kansas and the low price of wheat,” Chairman Roberts said. “He also suggested improvements to crop insurance and other commodity programs. As we begin to write the next farm bill, his insight will prove to be very helpful.”
For audio and video of Schemm’s testimony, click here.
Schemm said in his opening remarks, “Wheat farmers across the nation are experiencing the toughest economic conditions they have faced since the 1980s, and many of the previously mentioned projections don’t show potential for a quick upturn in the farm economy. This next Farm Bill will be critically important to farmers. The political and policy dynamics facing Congress this year are much different than the process to write the last Farm Bill. A strong safety net and risk management system is needed now more than ever. Each year, farmers face unpredictable risk when they plant crops in the ground and they rely on an effective risk management system and safety net to offset the inevitable weather disaster or price drop. Crop insurance and Title 1 programs have proven to be effective and good policy in general.”
The hearing, titled, “Commodities, Credit, and Crop Insurance: Perspectives on Risk Management Tools and Trends for the 2018 Farm Bill,” was the Senate Agriculture Committee’s latest Farm Bill hearing in the 115th Congress. The Committee heard from agriculture producers, general farm organizations, crop insurance professionals, as well as agriculture lenders on what is working and what needs to be changed in the upcoming Farm Bill reauthorization.
David Schemm and his wife Lisa own Arrow S Farms where they raise wheat, corn, and grain sorghum. Schemm is President of the National Association of Wheat Growers.
— U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
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