The two largest U.S. farm groups and the leading groups representing corn, soybean, wheat, barley, canola and sunflower producers are united in asking for more money for the 2018 farm bill and in naming crop insurance and commodity programs as their top priorities for funding. “There is a consensus on every issue,” the groups said in a statement presented at a House Agriculture subcommittee hearing on crop subsidies.
The two-page statement, titled “Farm bill issues on which we agree,” endorsed adjustments to the grain and oilseed supports created in the 2014 farm law. The groups said they oppose any reduction in federal subsidies on premiums for crop insurance and they supported strong funding for land stewardship programs.
Groups representing southern growers of cotton, peanuts and rice “do not have sufficient policy yet to support these programs,” said the statement. “All three of these groups, as well as those listed on this statement, intend to continue to work together to see if we can come to further agreements on these and other 2018 farm bill issues.”
Signing the statement were the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Farmers Union, American Soybean Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Corn Growers Association, National Barley Growers Association, National Sunflower Association and U.S. Canola Association.
The watch a video of the subcommittee hearing or to read statements by witnesses or the chairman’s opening statement, click here. The statement by farm groups is part of testimony by the American Soybean Association.