Farm Policy

For Farmers > Issue Briefs > Farm Policy

Overview

As the federal budget continues to rack up record deficits, NCGA and other commodity organizations understand the need to find effective and efficient farm programs that help farmers manage risk and cost less money. Last year, Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), John Thune (R-SD), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Dick Lugar (R-IN) introduced the Aggregate Risk and Revenue Management Program (ARRM) legislation that establishes a market based revenue risk management program. In December, the NCGA Corn Board voted to support the bill.

NCGA has long supported proposals that combine crop insurance and USDA programs to help growers in those years where prices and/or yields are reduced. For growers, especially young farmers, managing the potential loss of revenue is vital. Revenue programs are not designed to replace crop insurance nor are they a guarantee of a farmer’s profitability. They are a means to protect some of the risk that current crop insurance programs do not cover.

In the midst of record high federal deficits, corn growers see the opportunity to make fundamental changes to long established farm programs and still provide programs that assist growers only when needed. NCGA believes passage of the ARRM program is such an opportunity.

Recommended Action

• Urge Congress to pass a new farm bill this year.
• Work with House and Senate Ag Committee leaders to create farm programs that provide risk-management tools that complement the Federal Crop Insurance Program.
• Support transitioning direct payments into programs that allow producers the ability to manage risk while assuring food security.