Farm Bill Plea
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson. Economic conditions on the farm are getting worse, yet Congress has failed to pass a new farm bill.
Congress returned last week but most of their time will be used trying to avert a government shutdown before hitting the campaign trail, not passing a farm bill.
That’s upsetting to American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall …
DUVALL … “The farm bill can’t continue on as it has. It’s got to be modernized. It’s got to come up and reflect the true reality of what’s happening on the farm, what it cost us to produce it.”
Many farm economists say the sector is now in a recession. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley agrees …
GRASSLEY … “The inflation in agriculture is obvious since 2018, like increase in diesel, interest rates, parts for your farm machinery repair, seed, chemical, fertilizer.”
USDA says net farm income is down 23% since 2022, and AFB’s Joe Gilson says farmers are fed up …
GILSON … “They’re telling us they need a better farm safety net, that inflation and interest rates have really cut into their earning potential.”
Duvall says all of this will make it harder for farmers to secure operating loans …
DUVALL … “That operating loan comes from a bank that depends on what the farm bill safety net looks like.”
Duvall says kicking the can down the road on the farm bill won’t work, because for some farmers … “there’s no road left.”
