Farm and ag-related groups endorse conference report
January 27, 2014 | 09:13 PM
A number of farm, conservation, food aid groups and other agriculture-related groups came out with endorsements of the farm bill conference report after it was released.
The American Soybean Association was the first farm group to issue a statement of support.
“ASA supports the bill, which provides for multiple soybean farmer priorities, most notably a flexible farm safety net that includes a choice between price-based and revenue-based risk management tools and maintains the decoupling of payments under both programs from current planted acreage.”
In a statement from its headquarters in St. Louis, ASA said the bill includes a choice between an ASA-supported revenue program that covers both price and yield losses with county and farm level options, and a price support program which allows the optional purchase of insurance coverage under a Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO).
ASA also noted that the language in Title I allows producers to choose between maintaining existing crop acreage base or reallocating their current base acreage to reflect average acres planted to covered commodities in 2009-2012.
Ray Gaesser
“The bill establishes practical risk management programs that will protect us in difficult times. That’s been our top priority from day one,” said ASA President Ray Gaesser.
On crop insurance, Gaesser continued, the bill makes enterprise units permanent, allows growers to purchase enterprise unit coverage for both irrigated and dryland crops, authorizes a new Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO), “and will help to strengthen the next generation of agriculture by providing a 10 percent increase in premium support to beginning farmers and ranchers.”
The bill also secures several other ASA priorities, including agricultural research programs like the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) and the new Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR); the export promotion work done by the Foreign Market Development (FMD) and Market Access Program (MAP) on which soybeans depend as the nation’s top farm export; and key energy programs, including the Biodiesel Education Program and a strengthened Biobased Markets Program.
“The bill is a compromise,” Gaesser added. “It ensures the continued success of American agriculture, and we encourage both the House and the Senate to pass it quickly.”
In its Rice Daily publications issued today before the bill was filed, the USA Rice Federation said, “Based on published reports at this time, it seems the key provisions important to the U.S. rice industry are largely intact, and track closely with the priorities established by USA Rice for new farm policy. “
“Growers will have a choice of either the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) counter cyclical program or the Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) revenue program (with a county or farm level option),” the report said. “The target price for rice is $14/cwt (with an adjustment factor for California medium grain) and is available on 85 percent of base acres.”
“ARC sets a revenue guarantee of 86 percent of the recent five-year average revenue and is also available on 85 percent of base acres. Payment yields for PLC can be updated to 90 percent of the recent five-year average yields. Base acres can be reallocated to better reflect crops planted more recently, but overall base acres on a farm cannot be increased.”
The report added, “With the PLC option, producers also have the choice to purchase a new crop insurance product (beginning in 2015) called Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO), which is a county level program that allows up to 86 percent of revenue coverage with a 65 percent premium subsidy.
“The agreement includes a single payment limit per person of $125,000 for PLC, ARC, and marketing loan benefits. Relative to ‘actively engaged’ eligibility criteria, USDA would be given the authority to undertake a rule making to define the management criteria and potentially address the number of individuals per entity that can qualify based on providing management. “
“Based on these published reports, we think the 2014 farm bill conference report reflects a good compromise that should be workable for U.S. rice producers by providing a market-based policy that will provide assistance in times of price or revenue declines,” said John Owen, chairman of the USA Rice Producers Group. “Given how far we’ve come, and how long this process has taken, I feel pretty good about this.”
“USA Rice Federation staff will be working this week to help ensure the necessary votes in the House and Senate to finally approve the conference report so growers, their lenders, and other industry members have some policy certainty, and USDA can begin the important task of implementing the new provisions,” the publication said.
National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson said his group was pleased by its “initial review of the language released by the committee” and that its board will meet Tuesday to make a further statement.
Earlier today, Johnson took issue with efforts by the meat industry to oppose the bill because it doesn’t make changes to country-of-origin labeling.
“The groups that signed the letter do not represent farmers and ranchers. They represent the vertically integrated packers, and they clearly do not have the interests of family farmers and ranchers in mind.”
“Permanent baseline funding for livestock programs is part of the bill, including nearly $5 billion in disaster funds,” he said. “The Livestock Forage Program is also set to be improved in this farm bill, as are the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and various livestock health initiatives.”
American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman wrote each member of the House and Senate today urging passage of the bill.
“This will provide farmers and ranchers certainty for the coming year and allow USDA to plan for an orderly implementation of the bill’s provisions,” Stallman wrote.
National Association of Conservation Districts President Earl Garber praised the conference report for tying crop insurance to conservation compliance, establishing “permanent baselines” for critical programs and streamlining technical assistance delivery.
The American Forest Foundation said the bill will help family-owned forests gain access to a wide range of USDA programs and continue to fight against forest pests and pathogens.
WFP USA, a private sector group that supports the U.N. World Food Program, cited the humanitarian crisis in Syria and other places and urged swift passage of the bill.
WFP USA noted that the bill authorizes $80 million for local and regional food procurement and increases cash flexibility for development programs and improves the nutritional quality of food aid.
Ertharin Cousin
WFP itself also praised the bill.
“The World Food Program welcomes this renewed commitment from the United States, whose support in reaching the hungry poor has been essential and unwavering,” said Ertharin Cousin, an American who is the executive director of WFP at its Rome-based headquarters.
“At a time of multiple protracted hunger crises across the globe, new U.S. contributions to international food assistance will have an even greater impact than before.”
Oxfam America, which has been highly critical of U.S. food programs, said, “This deal represents real progress from the 2007 farm bill and is a stepping stone for comprehensive reforms that we expect will be included in the president’s fiscal year 2015 budget.”
The Alliance for Global Food Security, composed of U.S. humanitarian groups that distribute U.S. food and sell some of it to raise money for development efforts, also praised the bill, noting that under the PL 480 Title II donation program, at least $350 million is provided each year for development-focused food aid programs that improve the nutrition, agricultural productivity and incomes of poor, malnourished populations.
Robert Greenstein
Center for Budget and Policy Priorities President Robert Greenstein wrote a lengthy commendation on the nutrition title. (See link below)
“The proposed farm bill conference agreement announced today represents a relatively favorable outcome for SNAP and most of the millions of low-income Americans who rely on it,” Greenstein wrote, “especially in light of what might have occurred or what may occur if Congress rejects this agreement and leaves it to the next Congress to write its own farm bill.”
The Agriculture Energy Coalition, which represents renewable energy, energy efficiency and agricultural groups, praised the legislation’s $881 million in mandatory funding for energy title programs, adding that the Biorefinery Assistance Program and the Renewable Energy for America Program are particularly important.
The Biotechnology Industry Organization also noted that renewable chemicals would eligible for energy title funding through the Biorefinery Assistance Program and the Biomass Research and Development Program.
The American Bankers Association praised the bill for removing term limits on USDA guaranteed farm loans, saying that the limits created uncertainty for the 35,000 farmers and ranchers who use lending programs with USDA guarantees.
“The farm bill is crucial to the economic well-being of our nation’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities. We urge Congress to approve this legislation without further delay,” the ABA added.
The Organic Trade Association called the bill “a victory for organic farmers, businesses and consumers” because it will allow USDA to consider an application to establish an organic check-off program and clarified that the current exemption from conventional check-off programs applies to all certified organic operations.
OTA also noted that the bill increases funding for the National Organic Program to enforce organic standards, improve technology, and negotiate international trade agreements; and included funding for organic research, data collection, and certification cost-share.
American Soybean Association
The American Soybean Association was the first farm group to issue a statement of support.
“ASA supports the bill, which provides for multiple soybean farmer priorities, most notably a flexible farm safety net that includes a choice between price-based and revenue-based risk management tools and maintains the decoupling of payments under both programs from current planted acreage.”
In a statement from its headquarters in St. Louis, ASA said the bill includes a choice between an ASA-supported revenue program that covers both price and yield losses with county and farm level options, and a price support program which allows the optional purchase of insurance coverage under a Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO).
ASA also noted that the language in Title I allows producers to choose between maintaining existing crop acreage base or reallocating their current base acreage to reflect average acres planted to covered commodities in 2009-2012.
Ray Gaesser
“The bill establishes practical risk management programs that will protect us in difficult times. That’s been our top priority from day one,” said ASA President Ray Gaesser.
On crop insurance, Gaesser continued, the bill makes enterprise units permanent, allows growers to purchase enterprise unit coverage for both irrigated and dryland crops, authorizes a new Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO), “and will help to strengthen the next generation of agriculture by providing a 10 percent increase in premium support to beginning farmers and ranchers.”
The bill also secures several other ASA priorities, including agricultural research programs like the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) and the new Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR); the export promotion work done by the Foreign Market Development (FMD) and Market Access Program (MAP) on which soybeans depend as the nation’s top farm export; and key energy programs, including the Biodiesel Education Program and a strengthened Biobased Markets Program.
“The bill is a compromise,” Gaesser added. “It ensures the continued success of American agriculture, and we encourage both the House and the Senate to pass it quickly.”
USA Rice Federation
In its Rice Daily publications issued today before the bill was filed, the USA Rice Federation said, “Based on published reports at this time, it seems the key provisions important to the U.S. rice industry are largely intact, and track closely with the priorities established by USA Rice for new farm policy. “
“Growers will have a choice of either the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) counter cyclical program or the Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) revenue program (with a county or farm level option),” the report said. “The target price for rice is $14/cwt (with an adjustment factor for California medium grain) and is available on 85 percent of base acres.”
“ARC sets a revenue guarantee of 86 percent of the recent five-year average revenue and is also available on 85 percent of base acres. Payment yields for PLC can be updated to 90 percent of the recent five-year average yields. Base acres can be reallocated to better reflect crops planted more recently, but overall base acres on a farm cannot be increased.”
The report added, “With the PLC option, producers also have the choice to purchase a new crop insurance product (beginning in 2015) called Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO), which is a county level program that allows up to 86 percent of revenue coverage with a 65 percent premium subsidy.
“The agreement includes a single payment limit per person of $125,000 for PLC, ARC, and marketing loan benefits. Relative to ‘actively engaged’ eligibility criteria, USDA would be given the authority to undertake a rule making to define the management criteria and potentially address the number of individuals per entity that can qualify based on providing management. “
“Based on these published reports, we think the 2014 farm bill conference report reflects a good compromise that should be workable for U.S. rice producers by providing a market-based policy that will provide assistance in times of price or revenue declines,” said John Owen, chairman of the USA Rice Producers Group. “Given how far we’ve come, and how long this process has taken, I feel pretty good about this.”
“USA Rice Federation staff will be working this week to help ensure the necessary votes in the House and Senate to finally approve the conference report so growers, their lenders, and other industry members have some policy certainty, and USDA can begin the important task of implementing the new provisions,” the publication said.
Farmers Union, Farm Bureau
National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson said his group was pleased by its “initial review of the language released by the committee” and that its board will meet Tuesday to make a further statement.
Earlier today, Johnson took issue with efforts by the meat industry to oppose the bill because it doesn’t make changes to country-of-origin labeling.
“The groups that signed the letter do not represent farmers and ranchers. They represent the vertically integrated packers, and they clearly do not have the interests of family farmers and ranchers in mind.”
“Permanent baseline funding for livestock programs is part of the bill, including nearly $5 billion in disaster funds,” he said. “The Livestock Forage Program is also set to be improved in this farm bill, as are the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and various livestock health initiatives.”
American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman wrote each member of the House and Senate today urging passage of the bill.
“This will provide farmers and ranchers certainty for the coming year and allow USDA to plan for an orderly implementation of the bill’s provisions,” Stallman wrote.
Conservation groups
National Association of Conservation Districts President Earl Garber praised the conference report for tying crop insurance to conservation compliance, establishing “permanent baselines” for critical programs and streamlining technical assistance delivery.
The American Forest Foundation said the bill will help family-owned forests gain access to a wide range of USDA programs and continue to fight against forest pests and pathogens.
Food aid groups
WFP USA, a private sector group that supports the U.N. World Food Program, cited the humanitarian crisis in Syria and other places and urged swift passage of the bill.
WFP USA noted that the bill authorizes $80 million for local and regional food procurement and increases cash flexibility for development programs and improves the nutritional quality of food aid.
Ertharin Cousin
WFP itself also praised the bill.
“The World Food Program welcomes this renewed commitment from the United States, whose support in reaching the hungry poor has been essential and unwavering,” said Ertharin Cousin, an American who is the executive director of WFP at its Rome-based headquarters.
“At a time of multiple protracted hunger crises across the globe, new U.S. contributions to international food assistance will have an even greater impact than before.”
Oxfam America, which has been highly critical of U.S. food programs, said, “This deal represents real progress from the 2007 farm bill and is a stepping stone for comprehensive reforms that we expect will be included in the president’s fiscal year 2015 budget.”
The Alliance for Global Food Security, composed of U.S. humanitarian groups that distribute U.S. food and sell some of it to raise money for development efforts, also praised the bill, noting that under the PL 480 Title II donation program, at least $350 million is provided each year for development-focused food aid programs that improve the nutrition, agricultural productivity and incomes of poor, malnourished populations.
Center for Budget and Policy Priorities
Robert Greenstein
Center for Budget and Policy Priorities President Robert Greenstein wrote a lengthy commendation on the nutrition title. (See link below)
“The proposed farm bill conference agreement announced today represents a relatively favorable outcome for SNAP and most of the millions of low-income Americans who rely on it,” Greenstein wrote, “especially in light of what might have occurred or what may occur if Congress rejects this agreement and leaves it to the next Congress to write its own farm bill.”
Energy groups
The Agriculture Energy Coalition, which represents renewable energy, energy efficiency and agricultural groups, praised the legislation’s $881 million in mandatory funding for energy title programs, adding that the Biorefinery Assistance Program and the Renewable Energy for America Program are particularly important.
The Biotechnology Industry Organization also noted that renewable chemicals would eligible for energy title funding through the Biorefinery Assistance Program and the Biomass Research and Development Program.
American Bankers Association
The American Bankers Association praised the bill for removing term limits on USDA guaranteed farm loans, saying that the limits created uncertainty for the 35,000 farmers and ranchers who use lending programs with USDA guarantees.
“The farm bill is crucial to the economic well-being of our nation’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities. We urge Congress to approve this legislation without further delay,” the ABA added.
Organic Trade Association
The Organic Trade Association called the bill “a victory for organic farmers, businesses and consumers” because it will allow USDA to consider an application to establish an organic check-off program and clarified that the current exemption from conventional check-off programs applies to all certified organic operations.
OTA also noted that the bill increases funding for the National Organic Program to enforce organic standards, improve technology, and negotiate international trade agreements; and included funding for organic research, data collection, and certification cost-share.
