It?s the end of 2022 already, and there are a lot of things that farmers are going to be thinking about. One of those things that producers are encouraged to think about is the USDA Census of Agriculture. You are no doubt seeing those forms coming to your mailbox about now. This census is taken every five years, and Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig is telling producers that this is not just junk mail. This is not the government being nosey and wanting to know everything about your operation.
There are a lot of programs and funding that hang in the balance, depending on the information gathered by the Ag Census. These can even affect the policy of the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill. That is the message that the Secretary is trying to get across.
Speaking of the Farm Bill, there will be a new makeup in Congress when it gets debated this year. The chambers are going to be split between parties. Secretary Naig has talked with incoming Ag Committee Republican leadership and talked about the importance of both Ag committees getting to hear from Iowa producers.
There are many titles that are affected by the Farm Bill. Naig says the farm safety net is the one he is watching with much interest. The market prices would suggest to those who aren?t as fluent in agriculture that we don?t need the safety net. However, they also don?t realize the astronomical cost to put in a crop. That is why the safety net is so important according to ag leadership on both sides of the aisle.
