Secretary Perdue Statement on Release of 2018 Farm Bill
by USDA Office of Communications
(Washington, D.C., April 12, 2018) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today issued the following statement on the release of the 2018 Farm Bill:
“I applaud Chairman Conaway and the House Agriculture Committee for their diligence and hard work in crafting the 2018 Farm Bill. The trend of low commodity prices over recent years and headlines about trade disputes have caused anxiety among agricultural producers these days, so this legislation is critically important to give them some much-needed reassurance. In my travels across the country, I have found that farmers have confidence in President Trump’s ability to negotiate strong trade deals with other nations, but they also want a strong, bipartisan Farm Bill that puts their needs above Washington, D.C. politics. While there is still much work to be done, I am pleased that this Farm Bill aligns with many of the principlesUSDA released in January. I look forward to working with the Agriculture Committees and members of Congress from both sides to pass a comprehensive Farm Bill in a timely fashion to provide the needed support and certainty to our farmers. The Trump Administration has made rural prosperity a priority for the country, and a Farm Bill that works for agriculture is a key component of the agenda.”
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Iowa Senators stand up for Iowa farmers and Iowa’s economy
by State Sen. Rita Hart “…proposed tariffs will have a negative impact on Iowa’s agricultural economy…”
DES MOINES – Twenty-one Iowa State Senators are asking President Donald Trump to protect Iowa farmers, businesses and communities as he makes trade policy changes.
The letter urges the President “to reconsider the economic costs and benefits of your plan to impose new tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. It’s clear to most observers that the inevitable retaliation to proposed tariffs will have a negative impact on Iowa’s agricultural economy by causing other countries to levy burdensome tariffs against Iowa farm products.”
Senator Rita Hart of rural Wheatland wrote the letter and invited all Senators to sign it.
“My husband and I farm near Wheatland. We know firsthand that mistakes in trade policy can have severe consequences on Iowa farmers, small businesses and rural communities,” said Hart, the former chair of the Senate Economic Growth Committee.
The letter noted that “Iowa is the second largest agricultural export state, shipping $14 billion of products abroad last year.” It also drew attention to the fact that proposed U.S. tariffs increasing the cost of imported steel would also hurt Iowa manufacturers. The letter specially mentions Sukup Manufacturing in Sheffield, Iowa. The plant there has 600 Iowa employees and uses 1 million pounds of steel each week to make grain bins and dryers.
The letter was signed by every Democratic member of the Senate and by Independent Senator David Johnson.
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House farm bill draft maintains key programs for young farmers, but partisan provisions threaten passage
NYFC praises funding for beginning farmer training, farmland conservation, and land access programs; expresses concern over partisan approach
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 12, 2018) – In response to the House Agriculture Committee’s draft of the farm bill, the National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) praised portions of the bill for maintaining programs critical to the success of young farmers, including maintaining beginning farmer training and land access programs, and restoring funding for farmland conservation easements -- all top farm bill priorities for NYFC. The Coalition had significant concern, however, that drastic changes to nutrition programs could threaten the bipartisan effort required to pass a farm bill before this year’s September deadline.
“Over the past year, young farmers from across the country have shown up and spoken out to make sure Congress knows what they need from this farm bill,” said Lindsey Lusher Shute, NYFC Executive Director and Co-founder. “Clearly, some parts of that message were heard. This bill would uphold programs that are making a difference. But it’s also the expectation of farmers and the American people that both parties work together to pass a farm bill on time -- one that provides a safety net for farmers and consumers. This Committee has got to find a way to get that done.”
As NYFC continues to analyze the draft bill and prepares for House Agriculture Committee action, members of its national grassroots network will continue to advocate for the Young Farmer Agenda.
The National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) is a national advocacy network of young farmers fighting for the future of agriculture. Visit NYFC on the web at www.youngfarmers.org, and on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
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