Farm Bill Optimism Pt
From the Ag Information Network, this is today’s Fruit Grower Report. As farmers and ranchers try and figure out how to withstand the soaring cost of doing business, Congress is still working to get a new Farm Bill done by the end of the year.
Representative Dan Newhouse says it’s not getting any easier …
NEWHOUSE … “As you know, the pressures the farmers are feeling right now, the numbers from a decade ago just don’t work.”
Newhouse says the cost of everything is more than it was …
NEWHOUSE … “Input costs have gone up so much. The stress that people are under is so much greater. We need to make sure the Farm Bill keeps up with the times here. And that’s why I’m glad the farmers were in town this week to impress upon members of Congress how important this is and the urgency of getting this done.”
It helps, Newhouse says when it comes straight from the source …
NEWHOUSE … “And I think that’s so helpful. You know, being one of maybe a dozen and a half farmers in the entire House and Senate it’s difficult to constantly be educating non-agricultural members of Congress on how important this is.”
Newhouse says it’s a team effort …
NEWHOUSE … “So, having these farm groups, having these farmers come into town, I can’t tell you how glad I am that they’re doing that to help educate my colleagues on how important this is.”
The 2018 Farm Bill extension expires September 30th … so another extension is likely.
