|
Contact: Patrick Delaney,
202-969-7040, x16,
pdelaney@gordley.com
Farm Bill Now Coalition Unites Nation’s Farm Groups in Push for New Farm
Bill
New website,
planned events in Iowa, D.C., highlight effort to provide American
farmers with certainty, security
August 22, 2012...Washington,
D.C.... The American Soybean
Association has joined a coalition of 39 of the nation’s foremost
agricultural organizations in an effort to raise public awareness of the
need for Congress to pass a new, comprehensive, five-year farm bill
before current farm programs expire in September.
The coalition, called Farm Bill Now, comprises associations and
coalitions representing commodity crops, livestock, dairy, specialty
crops, state and local governments, minor crops, energy and biobased
product groups, farm cooperatives and financial groups, as well as the
nation’s two largest farm groups, the American Farm Bureau Federation
and the National Farmers Union. Each organization has strong and
distinct policy priorities, yet all 39 are committed to passing a new,
comprehensive bill this year.
Today, the group issues the following statement, titled "Why We Need
a Farm Bill", on the importance of new farm legislation for America’s
farmers:
|
"Calling the farm bill the ‘farm bill’ suggests
its impact is limited only to farms and to the rural areas to
which they are so closely tied. It’s really a jobs bill. A food
bill. A conservation bill. A research bill. An energy bill. A
trade bill. In other words, it’s a bill that affects every
American.
"The farm bill affects our nation’s ability to
provide the necessities of life for a global population projected
to pass 9 billion by 2050. Here at home, it affects an industry
that provides 23 million—or 1 in every 12—American jobs.
"The farm bill has broad impact on our citizens
and our economy. It provides healthy foods to millions of
schoolchildren and nutritious options to families in need. It
develops and expands trade with valuable foreign markets. By
reducing spending significantly compared to prior farm bills, the
proposals pending right now in Congress address the need to get
our nation’s fiscal house in order.
"And yes, it benefits American farms—98 percent of
which are owned and operated by families. It helps big farms and
small farms, major crops and specialty crops, organic farmers and
conventional farmers, cattle ranchers and cotton ginners, farmers
markets and national suppliers, and the vast range of other
pursuits that make up American agriculture. This year, it would
help farmers tackle the challenges posed by the worst drought in a
generation.
"While Congress waits to finish the farm bill, we
are united in asking all Americans to encourage legislators—home
for summer town hall meetings and speeches—to finish this vital
legislation before the current farm and food law expires in
September. After all, it’s your bill too." |
In addition to today’s statement, Farm Bill Now launched an
interactive web portal at
www.FarmBillNow.com,
through which visitors to the site can connect to their members of
Congress and show their support for a new five-year farm bill. Using
messages to Congress via social media, event locations and times, and an
online petition,
FarmBillNow.com
gives both farmers and consumers the resources they need to make their
voices heard, telling Congress that the farm bill needs to be completed
before the current farm food law expires in September.
In the coming weeks, Farm Bill Now will hold events in Iowa and on
Capitol Hill to underscore the message as well.
On the afternoon of Tuesday, Aug. 28, farmers representing multiple
groups within the coalition will discuss the Farm Bill Now effort at the
annual Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa, the nation’s largest outdoor
farm show.
Wednesday morning Sept. 12, representatives of many of the groups
uniting today will gather on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol to
encourage Congress to pass the bill before programs expire at the end of
the month.
For more information on Farm Bill Now and to get involved in ensuring
that American agriculture has the security and certainty that it needs,
please visit
FarmBillNow.com.
###
Farm Bill Now is a coalition of 39 agricultural groups, each with
strong and varied policy priorities, yet all committed to passing a farm
bill this year. Learn more at
www.FarmBillNow.com.
|
25x'25 Alliance
Agricultural Retailers Association
American Beekeeping Federation
American Farm Bureau Federation
American Feed Industry Association
American Pulse Association
American Seed Trade Association
American Sheep Industry Association
American Soybean Association
American Sugar Alliance
Biobased Products Coalition
Council of State Governments East
Council of State Governments Midwest
Farm
Credit Council |
National Association of Wheat Growers
National Barley Growers Association
National Cattlemen's Beef Association
National Corn Growers Association
National Cotton Council
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
National Farmers Union
National Milk Producers Federation
National Potato Council
National Sorghum Producers
National Sunflower Association |
Northharvest Bean Growers Association
Northeast State
Association for Agricultural Stewardship
Produce Marketing Association
Southern Peanut Farmers Federation
Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance
State Agriculture and Rural Leaders
United Dairymen of Arizona
United Fresh Produce Association
U.S. Canola Association
U.S. Dry Bean Council
USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council
USA Rice Federation
Western Growers Association
Western Peanut Growers Association |
|
