Commodity Groups Reiterate Demands

Major American commodity growers are sticking to their policy demands in anticipation of major changes to the 2012 Farm Bill.

The long-delayed farm bill appears to be gradually working its way through the House and Senate. For the past two years, federal politicians have appeared more concerned with scoring political points and trimming the federal deficit that renewing major farm policy. With the current farm bill set to expire in September, farm advocacy groups are stepping up the pressure on politicians in Washington.

The president of the National Corn Growers Association said that passing a new farm bill is one of his group’s number one priorities. “We want to pass a farm bill,” he said.

In addition, commodity growers are adamant that the federal government maintain agricultural safety nets. With direct farm payments almost certain to be eliminated in the upcoming farm bill, farmers are relying more heavily on crop insurance and loss-revenue programs to protect their incomes.

Groups like the Corn Growers Association have placed crop insurance programs at the top of their federal wish list and have indicated to Congress that they are willing to give up direct payments in exchange for more robust price protections.

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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer