Oklahoma Farm Report masthead graphic with wheat on the left and cattle on the right.
Howdy Neighbors!
Ron Hays, Director of Farm and Ranch Programming, Radio Oklahoma Ag Network  |  2401 Exchange Ave, Suite F, Oklahoma City, Ok 73108  |  (405) 601-9211

advertisements
   
   
   
   
   

Agricultural News


Wheat Growers President Calls for Farm Bill Passage Before Sept. 30

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:06:16 CDT

Wheat Growers President Calls for Farm Bill Passage Before Sept. 30
National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) President Erik Younggren called on Congress to approve new farm policy legislation before the 2008 Farm Bill expires on Sept. 30.

Testifying before the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee on safety net programs, Younggren told Senators wheat farmers would be in the fields to plant winter wheat as early as August and needed the certainty of a long-term bill to finalize their risk management plans for the coming year.

A wheat, sugar beet and soybean farmer from far northern Minnesota, Younggren spoke in depth about his family's farm operation and his experiences with crop insurance and farm programs, which are illustrative of NAWG's policy priorities.

Younggren told Senators that NAWG strongly opposes any reductions to the baseline available for the federal crop insurance program, which is the core of the farm safety net for many crop producers.

"We are prone to frequent flooding in the spring and occasionally in the summer, as well as heavy, yield-robbing rains. Our humid summers are conducive to disease and fungus growth," he said. "My family farm operation has benefited enormously from the evolution of crop insurance in recent decades, showing how important this tool has become."

While crop insurance is NAWG's top policy priority for the new farm bill, Younggren told Senators that it alone is not a complete safety net.

Because different production areas of the country rely on different farm programs in times of need, NAWG supports multiple safety-net programs, including a disaster program in Title I.

Younggren called on Members of Congress to:
--outline programs that are understandable and built on the lessons farmers have learned from existing crop insurance revenue products;
--create programs that are defensible to our nation's taxpayers and friendly to our trading partners;
--offer a revenue-based farm program modeled on those in the 2008 Farm Bill, with coverage by commodity calculated with on-farm triggers and planted acres;
--ensure changes to existing programs or newly-created programs maintain producers' planting flexibility and the market's influence in planting decisions; and
--ensure spending within Title I, including funding for direct payments, remains part of Title I.

You can hear Eric Younggren's full testimony by clicking on the LISTEN BAR below. His written testimony is available by clicking here.

   


   

NAWG President Erik Younggren Speaks on the new Farm Bill.
right-click to download mp3

 

WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI

 


Top Agricultural News

  • Oklahoma Youth Expo Sale of Champions Sale Order Available Here- Sale Set for 4 PM Friday  Fri, 17 Mar 2023 04:50:54 CDT
  • Rural Voters Dominated Vote to Defeat Recreational Marijuana March 7th  Fri, 10 Mar 2023 07:13:05 CST
  • Ron Hays Talks to Israeli Ag Tour Guide Colin Lotzof About the Miraclel of Ag in Israel  Wed, 22 Feb 2023 22:11:04 CST
  • OALP Members Experience First Hand View of Cutting Edge Drip Irrigation Technology as Israel Travel Ends  Wed, 22 Feb 2023 10:51:49 CST
  • OALP Members Get First Hand View of Cutting Edge Drip Irrigation Technology as Israel Travel Ends  Wed, 22 Feb 2023 10:50:10 CST
  • Oklahoma Ag Leadership Program Sees Fruit, Beef and Dairy Production North of the Sea of Galilee in Israel  Mon, 20 Feb 2023 21:56:02 CST
  • Oklahoma Ag Leadership Program Sees Diverse Farm Operations in Jordan River Valley of Israel  Sun, 19 Feb 2023 21:17:30 CST
  • Israeli Tour Guide Mark Kedem Talks About The Cultural Aspects of What Class XX of OALP is Experiencing   Sat, 18 Feb 2023 22:17:23 CST

  • More Headlines...

       

    Ron salutes our daily email sponsors!

    Oklahoma Beef council Oklahoma Ag Credit Oklahoma Farm Bureau National Livestock Credit Ag Mediation Program P&K Equipment Oklahoma City Farm Show Union Mutual Stillwater Milling Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association KIS FUTURES, INC.
       
       
       
       
       

    Search OklahomaFarmReport.com

    © 2008-2024 Oklahoma Farm Report
    Email Ron   |   Newsletter Signup   |    Current Spots   |    Program Links

    WebReady powered by WireReady® Inc.