Ag News
GFB urges Georgia delegation to support House farm bill
Posted on May 15, 2018 at 20:00 PM
On May 14, Georgia Farm Bureau President Gerald Long wrote to members of the Georgia congressional delegation expressing support for H.R. 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018.
Long noted that with commodity prices nearing historic lows and ongoing concerns about the direction of U.S. trade policy, farmers in Georgia and across the nation stand to benefit from the long-term certainty that H.R. 2 would provide.
“While we recognize that it is still in the early stages of the legislative process and that members on both sides of the aisle have concerns with certain sections, GFB is pleased with the farm policy provisions in H.R. 2, and would like to see the bill move forward,” Long wrote, stressing to congressmen that Georgia is among the nation's top producers of cotton and peanuts, and that the language in H.R. 2 related to Title I commodity programs, marketing loans, crop insurance, and more, would be of great benefit to many Georgia farmers and rural communities.
Long also voiced support for H.R. 2’s proposed changes to the Dairy Margin Protection Program and the inclusion of language related to regulatory reform, rural development, trade, and agricultural research, all of which are priorities for GFB members.
Long asked members of Congress to support H.R. 2 when it comes up for a vote on the House floor, which could happen this week. He also asked members to oppose amendments that would undermine America's agriculture safety net, including those that would damage the crop insurance program or limit the effectiveness of commodity support programs.
GFB also signed onto a May 9 letter with more than 300 other agricultural organizations asking members of Congress to oppose amendments that would harm farm and ranch families, including amendments that would gut crop insurance programs and impose unworkable payment limits.
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