National Farmers Union leaders have written to lawmakers opposing language included in the House Agriculture Appropriations Bill. The provision urges exemptions for producer funded checkoff’s from Freedom of Information Act requests. NFU President Roger Johnson says the exemption suggests that producers have “something to hide.”

He says any use of public dollars must be open and transparent to the public.

USDA officials said that the exemption wouldn’t work because the agency must abide by laws set by Congress, including the Freedom of Information Act. Johnson says the provision puts USDA in a difficult position.

The full House has yet to act on the appropriations legislation while the Senate has yet to consider the Ag Appropriations Bill.