Following yesterday’s House Rules Committee meeting to determine which amendments would be considered, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R. 2) now heads to the House floor for debates and amendment votes. In anticipation of the debate, NAWG sent a letter to the House stating its positions on relevant amendments that will be voted on.
Jimmie Musick, Sentinel, OK farmer and NAWG president, says the National Association of Wheat Growers continues to push back against any amendments that would undermine the current structure of the crop insurance program as well as other amendments that would hurt farmers.
“Proposing significant restrictions on crop insurance ignores the needs of rural America and will increase the cost of program for all farmers," says Musick.
In the letter, NAWG calls attention to a few amendments and notably opposes Congressman Tom McClintock’s (R-CA) Amendment #93 which would phase out the farm safety net, including federal crop insurance, the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) program, the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program, and sugar policy. Additionally, NAWG voiced opposition towards Congresswoman Virginia Foxx’s (R-NC) Amendment #32 which cuts the sugar program, ultimately outsourcing U.S. sugar jobs to subsidized foreign industries.
“Net cash farm income for wheat farmers is expected by USDA to be down 21% this year compared to last year, which is why we need to pass a Farm Bill that works for all growers who can then have access to these beneficial programs,” says Musick.
