NFU Outlines Farm Bill Priorities for House Committee on Agriculture
US - National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson sent a letter to members of the US House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, outlining priorities, such as funding programmes, research and farmer protection, ahead of the scheduled 2013 Farm Bill markup.
16 May 2013
2 minute read
“NFU is pleased that the House Agriculture Committee is taking up the 2013 Farm Bill,” said Mr Johnson.
“We are encouraged by the language included in the commodity title that provides protections to family farmers when disasters strike and during times of long-term price collapse. We oppose any modifications that would undermine the integrity of the Price Loss Coverage program.”
Also outlined in the letter are the following positions:
- NFU supports Rep. Walz’s amendment (number 3) to provide $800 million of mandatory funding to the farm bill energy title.
- NFU opposes Rep. Conaway’s amendment (number 5) that would undo certain Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) protections for farmers.
- NFU supports Rep. Enyart’s amendment (number 12) that would encourage the U.S. Air Force to develop a program providing competitive grants to existing biofuel research centers.
- NFU opposes Rep. Goodlatte’s amendment (number 17) to dismantle the sugar program.
- NFU opposes Rep. Austin Scott’s amendment (number 20) to eliminate Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) requirements for livestock and poultry.
- NFU supports Rep. Courtney’s amendment (number 51) to restore mandatory funding to the National Organic Program.
- NFU opposes Rep. Goodlatte’s amendment (number 56) to remove stabilization programs from the dairy reform language in the committee’s draft.
- NFU supports Rep. Noem’s amendment (number 67) that would allow Rural Energy for America Program funds to be used for the installation of blender pumps.
- NFU supports Rep. Costa’s amendment (number 69) to restore funding to the National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program.
- NFU opposes Rep. Lujan Grisham’s amendment (number 83) to prohibit the slaughter of horses for human consumption.
“NFU urges House leadership to take the bill to the full House floor as soon as possible so that a five-year farm bill can be accomplished prior to the approaching September 30 deadline," added Mr Johnson.
You can view the full letter by clicking here.
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