US Commodity Groups Urge Congress to Pass Farm Spending Bill
Source: DairyNews.today
In a collective call to action, more than 300 U.S. farm and commodity groups have pressed Congress to pass a long-overdue farm spending bill before the year’s end, according to a letter obtained by Reuters.
The groups, including major organizations like the National Corn Growers Association, the American Farm Bureau Federation, and the American Soybean Association, emphasized the urgent need for new legislation to address mounting challenges in the agricultural sector.
The farm bill, a comprehensive package renewed every five years, provides funding for a wide range of programs, including farm subsidies, commodity support, nutrition assistance, and conservation efforts. With the 2018 farm bill having expired in September 2023, farmers are operating in a period of uncertainty, exacerbated by rising input costs, extreme weather events, and other economic pressures.
The letter warned that the delay in passing a new bill comes at a critical time. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently projected that farm income will drop by 4.4% in 2024, marking the second consecutive annual decline. This comes on the heels of another year of high costs for seeds, fertilizer, and other inputs, adding to the financial strain on U.S. farmers.
“A new farm bill with enhanced support is essential to providing certainty and stability for the agricultural community,” the groups stated. “Farmers are facing increasing hurdles, and without meaningful investments in commodity programs and crop insurance, many family farms will struggle to stay afloat.”
While Congress extended the 2018 farm bill temporarily, that extension expires at the end of September, leaving lawmakers little time to finalize a new package. The House Agriculture Committee, led by Republicans, passed its version of the bill in May 2023 with minimal Democratic support. Both the House and Senate must reconcile their versions before a full Congressional vote can occur, but a partisan divide over key issues—such as funding for nutrition assistance programs—continues to delay progress.
The letter also highlighted the risks of further inaction, stating that failure to pass a new farm bill with updated supports would jeopardize the livelihoods of thousands of family farmers across the nation. The groups urged Congress to act swiftly, warning that a simple extension of the current law would not address the critical needs of the sector as it heads into 2025.
With farm income on the decline and economic pressures mounting, the passage of a robust farm spending bill remains a top priority for the U.S. agricultural industry. Congress will need to reconcile political differences to ensure that farmers receive the necessary support to continue their vital role in feeding the nation.
The farm bill, a comprehensive package renewed every five years, provides funding for a wide range of programs, including farm subsidies, commodity support, nutrition assistance, and conservation efforts. With the 2018 farm bill having expired in September 2023, farmers are operating in a period of uncertainty, exacerbated by rising input costs, extreme weather events, and other economic pressures.
The letter warned that the delay in passing a new bill comes at a critical time. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently projected that farm income will drop by 4.4% in 2024, marking the second consecutive annual decline. This comes on the heels of another year of high costs for seeds, fertilizer, and other inputs, adding to the financial strain on U.S. farmers.
“A new farm bill with enhanced support is essential to providing certainty and stability for the agricultural community,” the groups stated. “Farmers are facing increasing hurdles, and without meaningful investments in commodity programs and crop insurance, many family farms will struggle to stay afloat.”
While Congress extended the 2018 farm bill temporarily, that extension expires at the end of September, leaving lawmakers little time to finalize a new package. The House Agriculture Committee, led by Republicans, passed its version of the bill in May 2023 with minimal Democratic support. Both the House and Senate must reconcile their versions before a full Congressional vote can occur, but a partisan divide over key issues—such as funding for nutrition assistance programs—continues to delay progress.
The letter also highlighted the risks of further inaction, stating that failure to pass a new farm bill with updated supports would jeopardize the livelihoods of thousands of family farmers across the nation. The groups urged Congress to act swiftly, warning that a simple extension of the current law would not address the critical needs of the sector as it heads into 2025.
With farm income on the decline and economic pressures mounting, the passage of a robust farm spending bill remains a top priority for the U.S. agricultural industry. Congress will need to reconcile political differences to ensure that farmers receive the necessary support to continue their vital role in feeding the nation.
23.09.2024
Carbon emissions in global milk production - the elephant in the room
I have been thinking to make this post yes/ no. I decided for yes and like to ask everyone to not "shoot the messenger". The chart shows an analysis of IFCN Dairy Research Network from the 2024 supporter conference in Poland.
