The nation’s two largest farming groups, the Farm Bureau and Farmers Union are calling for swift passage of the farm bill by the conference committee. While Congress is on recess, the hope is that they debate the measure right away when they return from break and pass it. South Dakota Farm Bureau President Scott VanderWal says that needs to be done before the present one expires the end of next month.
Producers are facing their lowest farm income in 12 years and South Dakota Farmers Union President Doug Sombke says having farm legislation to help them will be a challenge for conferees with not a lot of money available.
The ag economy is in the worst shape it’s been since the farm crisis of the 1980s. And VanderWal says that’s another major reason a new farm bill is needed in order to help address that.
Both leaders say agriculture is facing a lot of uncertainty and having a new farm bill could help solve that problem.
