The 2016 Republican Platform is calling on Congress to separate the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP from the Farm Bill. South Dakota Corn Growers President Keith Alverson who serves on the NCGA Board of Directors is in Washington DC this week attending Corn Congress. He says both the National Corn Growers and South Dakota state group oppose that.

He says the political influence of farmers is shrinking so it’s necessary to team with others on similar concerns in order to get Congress to listen and pass legislation.

Alverson says without agriculture teaming together with other groups in a coalition setting is the only way to have any real influence on national issues.

The Republican platform says the party aims to correct what it calls the mistake of putting SNAP administration under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. SNAP makes up 70 percent of all farm bill spending.