August Recess is Good Time to Visit with Your Elected Officials

August Recess is Good Time to Visit with Your Elected Officials

The prolonged period of low commodity prices combined with high input and production costs has put a significant strain on the farm sector.

Roger Johnson, president of National Farmers Union, says that the impact of a struggling farm economy has implications beyond the farm gate, and lawmakers need to understand the direct and indirect impact if commodity prices remain low as forecasted.

Johnson: "Perhaps the greatest challenge for producers today is operating through several years of low commodity prices. According to USDA's market forecasts, these trends are expected to continue with no real relief in sight. An example might be wheat prices which are at the lowest value — by some calculations — since the Civil War. On average wheat growers are grossing less than $175 income per acre about 55 percent of cost of productions. People can't stay in business with those kind of numbers for very long. Farmers and ranchers are facing some very difficult decisions about the future of their operations. We've got to do a better job of supporting them."

 

Johnson says the perfect opportunity for family farmers and ranchers to have their voices heard is by having conversations with their representatives during the August congressional work period.

Johnson: "During the August Congressional recess this is the ideal opportunity for rural constituents to make their voices heard by setting up meetings or attending town hall forums with their member of Congress."

 

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