It’s been another week of reminders that Washington still hasn’t delivered on one of agriculture’s most basic needs: a new Farm Bill. Earlier this week, Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig said that agriculture craves certainty, and that’s something producers haven’t had in a long time. Now, the National Farmers Union is joining that growing call, urging lawmakers to move from talk to action and finally get a comprehensive bill passed.
The National Farmers Union continues to focus on key policy priorities, with the most urgent being the need for a new Farm Bill. Mike Stranz, vice president of advocacy for NFU, said several critical issues remain unsolved and producers can’t afford to be left waiting while Congress debates politics instead of progress.
Much of the upcoming discussion in Washington will center on farm bill assistance programs, which are just one piece of a larger puzzle. Stranz said the bigger focus needs to be on the long-overdue improvements and modernization of the Farm Bill itself.
The National Farmers Union says the message to Congress is simple: producers need more than another short-term extension. They need a Farm Bill that reflects the realities of today’s agriculture and strengthens the foundation for the next generation of producers.
