Farm Bureau President Stresses Importance of Farm Bill

Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, testified Thursday before the Senate Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade, underscoring the importance of the farm bill. He said the bill impacts all American families and contributes to national security by ensuring a robust food supply. Duvall highlighted key issues for farmers. First, farmers want crop insurance to remain in place and expanded for specialty crops, which currently lack this support. Second, farmers are concerned about the mismatch between the Title I reference prices and the cost of production, which fails to provide an effective safety net. Finally, Duvall indicated strong farmer interest in conservation programs funded by the farm bill. Duvall stated that if these programs are market-based, voluntary, and science-driven, farmers will participate.

More news and analysis from Pro Farmer.