Statewide Farm Organization Says Iowa Farmers Have Waited Long Enough to End D.C. Farm Bill Gridlock
WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - July 11, 2013 - Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF), Iowa's largest grassroots farm organization, expressed disappointment today in the House passage of a split Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act, widely known as the 2013 Farm Bill that would separate nutrition and farm programs, while repealing permanent farm law.
"Repealing permanent farm law leaves little incentive for Congress to complete future bills in a timely fashion. The House leaders need to understand that removing permanent farm law leaves farmers, and the food they produce, vulnerable," says Craig Hill, IFBF president. "The key part of this has been the traditional alliance of nutrition and farm stakeholders, so splitting this weakens the rural voice in this vital debate."
Farm leaders have waited months for any movement on this, and while unconventional, this action today by the House is one step closer to conference with the Senate. "It is our fervent hope that House leaders will follow through with a nutrition bill so that the whole Farm Bill package can be completed," Hill added. "For too long, political chasms in Washington over the Farm Bill have been casting a mood of uncertainty for Iowa farmers and agribusiness industries. Unfortunately, this act does long-term harm to rural America and defeats the overall goal of a negotiated bill that benefits all Americans."
About Iowa Farm Bureau
The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is a grassroots, statewide organization dedicated to enhancing the People, Progress and Pride of Iowa. More than 153,000 families in Iowa are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve farm and rural prosperity. For more information about Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit the online Newsroom page at www.iowafarmbureau.com.
