2018 Farm Bill

Washington-The American Farm Bureau, independent community bankers, AFBF, ASA were among those testifying at Senate farm bill hearing yesterday afternoon on Capitol Hill.

The groups are outlining their goals and priorities for the next farm bill. On July 25, the Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing focused on credit and crop insurance, "Commodities, Credit, and Crop Insurance: Perspectives on Risk Management Tools and Trends for the 2018 Farm Bill."

The Bankers of America are asking for a multi-year farm bill that allows multi-year business decision-making.

The American Farm Bureau Federation is calling on Congress to maintain a unified farm bill that keeps nutrition and farm programs in the same bill. Crop insurance industry leaders stressed the importance of crop insurance in their testimony.

A Montana sugar beet grower testified in favor of maintaining a strong no-cost U.S. sugar policy in the bill. Soybean farmer Kevin Scott testified on the importance of risk management programs.

American Farm Bureau outlines priorities

The American Farm Bureau went to the Committee hearing with a specific agenda.

"Congress must counter a steep, four-year drop in commodity prices that has left farmers and ranchers in worse shape than any time since the farm depression of the 1980s," Kentucky Farm Bureau President Mark Haney told members of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

“2017 and 2018 will be a critical period for farmers and ranchers,” Haney said. “Farmers and ranchers are tightening their belts and paying very close attention to their individual financial situations. Simply put, they are in greater need of strong, secure safety net programs and risk management tools than has been the case for several years.”

To offset the effects of deteriorating farm and ranch conditions, Haney said, Congress should:

Protect current farm bill spending.

Maintain a unified farm bill that includes nutrition programs and farm programs together.

Ensure any changes to current farm legislation be an amendment to the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 or the Agricultural Act of 1949.

Prioritize top funding concerns -- risk management tools, which include both federal crop insurance and Title I commodity programs.

Ensure programs are compliant with World Trade Organization agreements.

Maintain robust funding for conservation programs that encourage environmentally sensitive farming practices as well as the periodic withdrawal of land from active use.