Agricultural News
Oklahoma Ag Secretary, Farm Groups Urge House to Pass Farm Bill
Mon, 23 Jul 2012 16:32:25 CDT
Oklahoma's agriculture secretary and a broad-based coalition of agriculture groups have written a letter to Congressional leaders asking for immediate floor time for consideration of the 2012 bill.
Secretary Jim Reese and the 19 organizations implore Speaker of the House John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to bring the FARRM Act to a vote as quickly as possible. The letter says the ongoing drought conditions are a threat to our national food supply, and quick action by Congress is needed to decrease uncertainty and encourage lenders and producers to move forward quickly.
The farm groups believe a lack of certainty and direction caused by a delayed farm bill will have widespread economic impact, such as impaired financial decisions for lenders and borrowers, including renewal of operating capital.
The letter asks House leaders to pass the bill in a timely fashion to minimize damage to both national and international markets.
You can read the text of the letter below.
The groups signing the letter include: Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, American Farmers & Ranchers, Great Plains Canola Association, Oklahoma Agribusiness Retailers Association, Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association,
Oklahoma Conservation Commission, Oklahoma Agricultural Cooperative Council, Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts, Oklahoma Cotton Council, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Oklahoma Grain and Feed Association, Oklahoma Livestock Marketing Association, Oklahoma Peanut Commission, Oklahoma Pork Council, Oklahoma Poultry Federation, Oklahoma Sorghum Association, Oklahoma Wheat Growers Association, Producers Cooperative Oil Mill, and Whitetails of Oklahoma.
Dear Speaker Boehner and Minority Leader Pelosi:
We congratulate House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) and Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-MN) for their success in moving the FARRM Act through the Committee with a strong bipartisan vote; and we request immediate consideration by the full House.
We are pleased that the legislation reported by the Committee provides choices that offer a balanced safety net for all commodities and regions because producers nationwide need to make cropping, financing, and marketing decisions now.
Specifically:
· The American public need safe and healthy food and fiber. The swift passage of this bill will
ensure access to these necessities. Especially at risk are nutrition authorizations.
· Additional programs nationwide face authorization risks, including conservation and disaster
programs. This is especially important in the face of national drought conditions.
A lack of certainty and direction caused by a delayed farm bill will have widespread economic impact.
· Finance decisions for lenders and borrowers will be impaired, including renewal of operating
capital.
· Producers will need to know the conditions under which they're making cropping and planting
decisions.
· Marketing both nationally and internationally will be problematic.
The country is facing widespread drought conditions and, therefore, inevitable food shortages and
affordability. Without passage of the FARRM Act, the national food supply will be placed at additional
risk.
While representing a wide range of interests, we are united in our view that the bill should receive floor
time and be finalized this year, on schedule.
Sincerely,
Oklahoma Secretary and Commissioner of Agriculture, Jim Reese
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