Farm Bureau Calls for Congressional Action

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall today urged Congress to take seriously the more than $30 billion in losses farmers experienced this year.

“The clock is running out for congressional action to help farmers hold on for another planting season. We’ve lost 141,000 farms in five years and we will lose more without action. Congress has kicked the can down the road on modernized farm policy for two years, leaving farmers with antiquated risk management programs that failed to provide promised support.

“Congress must deliver aid to help farmers hit by natural disasters, a farm bill extension, economic aid to bridge the gap for farmers until we get a new farm bill, and authorization for year-round E-15, which provides a market for farm goods and comes at no cost to the government.

“The gymnastics happening in our nation’s capital are a disservice to the American people. Shutting down the government would only increase the hardship for farmers trying to access programs they need to operate their farms and increase conservation efforts.

“On behalf of farmers across the country, I urge members of Congress to work in a bipartisan way, as they always have for agriculture, to do the right thing by helping farmers hang on.”

Read more about the need for economic aid in the latest Market Intel here.