Groups Urge House to Make New Farm Bill a 'Top Priority'

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 25, 2001 – The American Farm Bureau Federation and 20 other farm groups today urged House leaders to "make completion of the farm bill a top priority," calling on the leadership to schedule a vote on pending farm legislation (H.R. 2646) "at the earliest opportunity."

Citing "historic low (commodity) prices and increased costs" for farmers, the groups said the farm bill approved in July by the House Agriculture Committee would provide the best means of helping farmers. "Agriculture needs a new farm policy that provides for the continuation of agricultural programs, presents a balanced approach to addressing the issues that face producers of crops, livestock, fruits and vegetables, and provides much needed additional funding," the groups said.

"It is balanced, provides predictable long-term policy to stabilize the sector, and it complies with the current budget resolution," the farm groups said of the House committee bill.

In addition to Farm Bureau, the groups that joined the call for a prompt House vote included the American Association of Crop Insurers; Alabama Farmers Federation; American Beekeeeping Federation; American Sheep Industry Association; American Soybean Association; American Sugar Alliance; National Association of Wheat Growers; National Barley Growers Association; National Grain Sorghum Producers; National Cotton Council; National Milk Producers Federation; National Sunflower Association; Rice Millers Association; South East Dairy Farmers Association; Southern Peanut Farmers Federation; U.S. Canola Association; U.S. Rice Producers Federation U.S. Rice Producers' Group; United Egg Producers; and Western United Dairymen.

Contacts:

Don Lipton 202/484-3624 donl@fb.org

Dave Lane 202/484-3610 davel@fb.org

This page was last modified Tue Sep 25, 2001 at 05:35 pm