The comments about the 2018 farm bill, passed by both houses of Congress and was expected to be signed by President Donald Trump by press time, are being released in a way sort of like Mikey and his friends were eating Life cereal in that commercial of long ago, something you might expect you and your friends won’t like because it’s supposed to be good for you, but in the end, you like it.
The bipartisan, bicameral compromise legislation tweaks some farm programs to appeal to producers and assists poor people meet their nutrition needs while yes, there are other groups are appalled the changes either don’t go far enough to improve farm income or does something ill to smaller producers, the poor, the environment, or the rural economy.
Yet, on the whole, reaction has been positive. Here’s a smattering of comments from organizations interested in the farm bill.
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said in a statement, “This 2018 farm bill is a complete package—one that will serve all Americans. Farm and ranch families in particular will find a good degree of risk management support they need to help them weather the prolonged downturn in the agricultural economy that many of us are facing.”
National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson said, “Passage of the 2018 farm bill cannot come soon enough for American family farmers and ranchers, who need the certainty of the farm bill safety net to continue to weather the worst farm economy decline in more than thirty years. We also need the bill to continue the sustainability gains and emergence of new markets for farmers that have been supported by farm bill programs.”
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Kevin Kester said, “America’s cattlemen and women want common sense and certainty from Congress this holiday season and throughout the year. Today they received that through the passage of the farm bill—certainty that a foot-and-mouth disease vaccine bank will be authorized and funded, certainty that important conservation programs will be reauthorized and funded, and certainty that trade promotion and access to foreign markets will remain a priority in the years to come.”
National Corn Growers Association President Lynn Chrisp said, “NCGA is most pleased to see the bill maintains support for a robust crop insurance program, our organization’s top priority, and strengthens the agriculture risk coverage-county program through administrative improvements including a one-time program change option, an increase to the plug yield for disaster years, the use of a trend-adjusted yield factor, and a market adjustment provision for the floor price. The bill also provides increased funding for trade promotion programs that are especially important to agriculture at this time.”
National Association of Wheat Growers President Jimmie Musick said, “Historically low prices, trade instability and the current weather challenges are all weighing heavily on the minds of growers.”
NAWG applauded the maintaining a strong crop insurance title and supports the language allowing for producer choice between Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage. NAWG appreciated Congress for recognizing the importance of using consistent data in determining farm program payments, while making Risk Management Agency data its primary source, and for making improvements to both ARC and PLC.
Additionally, NAWG was pleased to see that the conference report increases funding for research of Fusarium head blight of $15 million for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.
Lenders approve
Bankers were pleased to see the bill reach the president’s desk.
Rob Nichols, American Bankers Association president and CEO, said. “We applaud the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives for passing the 2018 farm bill. This important piece of legislation provides critical risk management tools and stability for our nation’s farmers and ranchers, as well as the 2,000 farm banks that serve them every day.
“We are particularly pleased that lawmakers recognized the vital role of crop insurance and U.S. Department of Agriculture loan guarantees. These programs help farm banks make loans and manage risk in both good times and bad, which is critical to maintaining a stable and vibrant farm economy.”
Independent Community Bankers of America President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey said, “The bipartisan bill includes important commodity price protections that will provide producers and community banks with greater business-planning certainty over the next five years. This is essential during an era of low commodity prices, sharply lower net farm income, and foreign trade uncertainties.
“The farm bill also maintains a strong crop insurance program, increases USDA guaranteed farm loan limits to $1.75 million, and provides for the possible increase in guaranteed USDA rural development loans—all of which are ICBA and community bank priorities.
“ICBA and the nation’s community bankers appreciate the bipartisan congressional action on the farm bill and urge President Trump to quickly sign it into law.”
Larry Dreiling can be reached at 785-628-1117 or [email protected].
