 "Perhaps, as much as any policy specifics, we are concerned
about the timing of the next farm bill," said Philip Nelson,
president of the Illinois Farm Bureau. "Given the current farm
bill is set to expire, Illinois Farm Bureau insists -- above all
else -- that Congress work swiftly and in a bipartisan fashion
to bridge any remaining regional and policy differences and pass
a farm bill that the president can sign before the end of the
year."IFB supports a farm bill that encourages the full
productive capabilities of U.S. agriculture, provides essential
risk management tools, recognizes the positive contributions
made by farmers and landowners to our national's environmental
resources, and addresses the basic nutritional needs of all
Americans.
Nelson also said that while IFB is committed to fiscal
responsibility and supports the level of budget savings in the
Senate bill, it's important for Congress to remember that the
federal budget must account for the needs of many, including
farmers.
Additionally, IFB outlined its priorities for the 2012 Farm
Bill, including the need for a strong safety net for producers
across the country.
"During more than a year of policy review from June 2010 to
August 2011, IFB members agreed that crop insurance is by far
the most valuable component of the farm policy safety net and
should serve as the cornerstone of the 2012 Farm Bill," Nelson
said.
In addition to maintaining a strong crop insurance program,
Nelson welcomes the Senate's Agriculture Risk Coverage program,
which provides protection from sharp multiyear declines in
market prices. He said IFB also supports the Senate bill's focus
on streamlining conservation programs and the priority the bill
places on working lands programs like the Environmental Quality
Improvement Program.
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Finally, IFB supports administrative cuts to USDA nutrition
programs, without affecting beneficiaries, as well as a continued
emphasis on eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in the
$80-billion-a-year food and nutrition budget that accounts for
roughly $4 of every $5 in farm bill spending.
___
The Illinois Farm Bureau is a member of the American Farm Bureau
Federation, a national organization of farmers and ranchers. Founded
in 1916, IFB is a nonprofit, membership organization controlled by
farmers who join through their county Farm Bureau. IFB has a total
membership of more than 420,500 and a voting membership of 82,973.
IFB represents 2 out of 3 Illinois farmers.
[Text from file received from
Illinois Farm Bureau]
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