Reader asks Roberts to find common ground

I’m writing to ask Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts working on the 2018 farm bill to reject the King Amendment and pass a bipartisan farm bill.

As president of the National Dairy Producers Organization, I’m incredibly concerned about the future of independent family farmers. We are facing uncertainty about the weather, trade and consolidating markets. We cannot add to that uncertainty the fate of the 2018 farm bill and so many vital programs we rely on.

Unfortunately, Rep. Steve King of Iowa is pushing a radical amendment to eliminate our states’ rights. This amendment would take away our communities’ local control and will likely poison the farm bill process.

Family Farmers needs Congress to get to work and do their job. Please, Senator Roberts, find common ground. Reject and the King Amendment and get a farm bill done.

­—Mike Eby, Costa Mesa, California