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AFR Asks for a Farm Bill Now

Friday, September 14th, 2012

What is the Farm Bill?

The farm bill is an extensive, omnibus piece of legislation that is reauthorized roughly every five years. The term “farm bill” is really a misnomer. Although the legislation does contain a number of provisions that are critical to family farmers’ and ranchers’ economic success, more than 75 percent of the bill’s funding is allocated for nutrition programs, both in the United States and abroad.

Many of the remaining provisions relate to rural business development, renewable energy production, and protection of our country’s most precious natural resources. So, above all, the farm bill is really a food, energy and jobs bill, and all consumers, farmers and rural Americans have a responsibility to engage in the farm bill debate.

Our motto at AFR has long been “if you eat, you’re involved in agriculture.” That could accurately be changed to “if you eat, you’re involved in the farm bill.”

Farm Bill Now

The time to pass a farm bill is now. The full Senate and House Agriculture Committees each passed their own version of the farm bill with bipartisan support. However, the House of Representatives has not taken up the farm bill for a vote.

A five-year farm bill must be reauthorized as soon as possible. If the bill is not passed this year, the budget for the next farm bill is certain to be smaller and subject to additional mandatory, across-the-board spending cuts.

The agriculture sector employs 23 million Americans—that’s one in every twelve jobs—and the farm bill is an important investment in the economy. A profitable agriculture industry is a surefire way to put our economy back on its feet.

AFR is asking Congress to:

  • Pass the farm bill before the end of the 2012 congressional term. Thirty-seven programs vital to the rural American economy are set to expire. Although a temporary extension of the farm bill is better than no farm bill at all, an extension poses many problems. And, the longer Congress waits, the more difficult it will be to craft a strong bill.
  • Provide a framework of certainty. Long-term government policies that protect against low yields, price volatility and high input costs are needed so that farmers can craft effective business plans and provide confidence to their lenders. Currently, neither farmers, nor their financial institutions, know what policies will be in place when producers harvest and market crops they will be planting this fall.
  • Pass legislation that would retroactively authorize disaster programs [Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program (SURE), Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), Livestock Forage Program (LFP) and Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP)] for losses suffered in 2012. These programs expired in 2011. Because of the severe drought plaguing U.S. agriculture, it is an absolute necessity that these disaster programs be included in the farm bill.

What Can You do?

To understand the urgent need for a 2012 Farm Bill, Congress needs to hear from you! Call your congressman and Speaker John Boehner. Ask that Representative Frank Lucas’ House Farm Bill be considered on the House floor. Let them know how important this legislation is to you and your family.

Speaker John Boehner ......................................... (202)225-0600

Rep. John Sullivan (OK Dist. 1) ............................ (202)225-2211

Rep. Dan Boren (OK Dist. 2) ................................ (202)225-2701

Rep. Frank Lucas (OK Dist. 3) .............................. (202)225-5565

Rep. Tom Cole (OK Dist. 4) ................................... (202)225-6165

Rep. James Lankford (OK Dist. 5) ........................ (202)225-2132

For more information on the farm bill, please visit www.FarmBillNow.com or contact AFR at legislation@afrmic.com or (405)218-5563.