Bi-Partisan Agreement Saves Taxpayers Millions While Maintaining Vital Farming Safety Net
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa - January 28, 2014 -- Iowa Farm Bureau farmers are pleased to finally see an apparent compromise reached in a long-overdue 2014 Farm Bill, just reached this week by Congress. The Agricultural Act of 2014 means farmers are doing their part to help reduce the federal deficit through this streamlined bill. The Agricultural Act of 2014 calls for an end to direct payments, while strengthening vital risk management tools. The bi-partisan bill also strengthens conservation efforts to protect land, water and wildlife not only now, but for future generations.
"We knew that the strength and reliability of our nation's food production means farmers have to be able to make plans. Our farmers faced devastating drought one year, and floods the next. So, for our farmers, the backbone of the bill lies in maintaining the strength of the crop insurance program; with crop insurance, farmers can invest in their own risk management by purchasing insurance policies so they are protected in difficult times. That means we can keep doing what we do best: grow reliable, safe food choices for consumers," said IFBF President Craig Hill.
"The soon-to-be finalized Farm Bill also provides a permanent livestock disaster assistance program for farmers and ranchers affected by natural disasters, such as those winter storms which devastated cattle herds in the Northern Plains last spring," said Hill.
"This bill isn't perfect because there are some things we wish would've been included, but in the nature of compromise, it took some give and take to bring agreement. Having a new Farm Bill finally on the books brings assurance to many Iowa farmers both today and for the next few years," said Hill.
