presidential paradigms
Long Overdue Farm Bill Gives Farmers an Answer
Charles Wilfong, President, West Virginia Farm Bureau
It appears we may finally
have a Farm Bill in place as
we await a vote in the U.S.
Senate. All parties agree
this bill is far from perfect,
but after almost three years,
it will finally give farmers
some much-needed stability
and allow them to make
long-range plans.
The most notable features of the bill include:
1) Cuts to the SNAP program. Though not
the deep cuts many of us wanted, others
say this is at least a start.
Purportedly, some of the
money saved will be used
for job training to help
the unemployed.
“
air, and related natural resources on their
land. EQIP helps agricultural producers
to voluntarily implement conservation
measures to mitigate these threats.
5) Payments in lieu of taxes. This program
provides funding to areas of the country
where large tracts of land are governmentowned, and therefore do not produce tax
revenue for surrounding counties to fund
schools, infrastructure, etc. However, this
program is only extended for one year.
Also, a Veterinary Services Grant program
provided in the Farm Bill will award competitive
grants to develop and help
sustain veterinary services.
Veterinarians are key in
helping to maintain a safe
food supply. Our state,
along with many others,
has a critical shortage
of large animal vets.
Hopefully this will help
answer that need.
...it will finally give
farmers some muchneeded stability and
allow them to make
long-range plans.”
2) Repeal of most Direct
Payments. This program
was the source of
much criticism toward
the ag community.
Now farmers will be
encouraged to base their planting decisions
on the marketplace, and not on anticipated
payments from the government - a return
to free market principles that many
support.
3) Disaster aid to livestock farmers. This aid
will be retroactive, and includes coverage
for livestock losses from severe weather
such as the recent event in the Dakotas.
The bill establishes a new, permanent
10-year baseline for disaster assistance.
There is also a Livestock Forage Program
for losses resulting from drought or fire;
and programs to aid producers of honey
bees and farm raised fish.
4) Continuation of EQIP. This conservation
program offered through NRCS provides
funding and technical assistance to farmers
and ranchers facing threats to soil, water,
4 West Virginia Farm Bureau News
One of the major objections to the Farm Bill
is mandatory Country of Origin Labeling. Many
in agriculture feel this requirement has damaged
relations with international trading partners and
will result in retaliatory tariffs being placed upon
a number of U.S. exports, putting our producers
at a distinct disadvantage. Several agriculturerelated groups withdrew their support of the Farm
Bill because this requirement was not removed.
It remains to be seen whether or not this problem
will be addressed in future legislation.
No one is fully satisfied with the results of
the Farm Bill. Congress must understand the
importance of allowing our farmers and ranchers
to continue to produce safe, healthy, affordable
food and still earn a living for their families. If
we don’t, the only alternative is to be at the mercy
of others when it comes to feeding our nation.
That is a frightening alternative.