Agricultural News
American, Missouri FBs Bringing the Heat on Farm Bill
Thu, 15 Aug 2013 18:49:04 CDT
The American Farm Bureau Federation and Missouri Farm Bureau, along with Sen. Roy Blunt and Rep. Vicky Hartzler teamed up at a news conference during the Missouri State Fair to put the heat on Congress to pass legislation important to agriculture.
The farm leaders and policy makers met at Missouri Farm Bureau's State Fair building during Legislators' Day at the Missouri State Fair. In addition to members of the news media, several hundred farmers and ranchers packed the building for the event. They waved specially designed "Bring The Heat" cardboard fans from the crowd.
AFBF farm policy specialist Mary Kay Thatcher joined the farm leaders and lawmakers to bring attention to the organization's August recess grassroots campaign "Bring the Heat." While the Missouri event focused on the farm bill, the other campaign components are ag labor reform and passage of waterways improvement legislation.
Thatcher urged Congress to pass a five-year farm bill instead of another extension when they return to Washington, D.C., after Labor Day. She asked farmers and ranchers to tell members of Congress to move quickly toward passage of the bill that affects both consumers and the agricultural community before the bill expires at the end of September.
Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst, also a member of the AFBF Board of Directors, welcomed comments from Blunt and Hartzler, who both agreed that action from their Capitol Hill colleagues is needed now.
"We appreciate their strong support as well as the support shown by other members of our congressional delegation," said Hurst. "Certainty, in terms of having a safety net in place when it is needed most is critical to agriculture. We know our delegation will continue to 'bring the heat' to their colleagues to finish the farm bill."
Blunt thanked Missouri Farm Bureau and Farm Bureau members for their hard work on behalf of farm families across the state.
"Farmers and ranchers in Missouri are working hard every day to help feed the nation and the world," said Blunt, who serves as the Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. "I was glad to vote for the Senate-passed farm bill this year, and I'll continue fighting to ensure farmers and ranchers receive the economic certainty they need in order to succeed."
Hartzler was in agreement.
"After traveling across my district for three days touring operations and meeting with farmers, it is obvious that rural America needs the certainty of a five year farm bill that is fair to taxpayers and good for consumers," Hartzler said.
Thatcher gave Farm Bureau's view of the slow-grinding process.
"Farmers and ranchers are hot around the collar at Congress for putting politics before progress on issues like the farm bill," said Thatcher. "That's why Farm Bureau members from across the country are bringing the heat to their congressional members during August recess, letting them know that we need a farm bill signed into law this fall."
You can watch more comments from Mary Kay Thatcher by clicking here.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI
Top Agricultural News
More Headlines...
