American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) released its general new farm bill recommendations on Thursday.
Farm Bureau’s Agenda
First on the AFBF’s list: “protect farm bill program spending,” followed by “maintain a unified farm bill that keeps nutrition programs and farm programs together.” They also want a robust federally subsidized crop insurance system and “adequate” staffing and funding of the USDA’s technical assistance programs for farmers and ranchers.
The AFBF suggested three minor changes to public nutrition programs, including one to allow food banks to buy fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops directly from farmers.
“It makes perfect sense” to combine commodity supports and SNAP (food stamps) in the same piece of legislation, said president Zippy Duvall in announcing the group’s farm bill priorities on Thursday.
Farm Bureau also said more milk should be eligible for the Dairy Margin Coverage subsidy program.
Lock-in Rates
The AFBF called for higher reference rates and loan rates, at a still-to-be-determined level and cost, and more emphasis on stewardship on working lands rather than long-term idling of cropland.
“We believe that because of the higher cost of production, it justifies the increase in the reference prices for Title I commodities to ensure farmers remain economically viable,” said Duvall.
Farm Bureau knows full well not to be too specific ahead of their January annual confab.
On the Conservation Reserve Program
The enrollment cap for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) should be lowered from its current 25.5 million acres, Farm Bureau said, and landowners should be encouraged to return prime cropland now in the reserve to production.
“We believe that the right way to do it is through working land projects,” he said. Land set-asides limit the land available for new and beginning farmers and constrict crop production in a hungry world, said Duvall.
Farm Bill Math
Around 85% of all farm bill spending is on food and nutrition programs, primarily food stamps. So, there is usually a concerted battle by various groups and lawmakers over the remaining 15%. That process has begun.
Total funding beyond food and nutrition spending should be increased for adequate farm policy support. One of the ways, but by no means the only way to do that, is via a large boost in maximum spending for the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC).
More on farm bill 2023:
What’s Your Take on the 2018 Farm Bill?
5 Conservation Needs to be Met in Farm Bill 2023
New Farm Bill, but Same Debate on Food Stamps
