NSAC's Blog
COMMENT: NSAC Cheers Inclusion of “Actively Engaged” Amendment in Senate Substitute
June 27, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Reana Kovalcik
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
202-547-5754, rkovalcik@sustainableagriculture.net
NSAC Cheers Inclusion of “Actively Engaged” Amendment in Senate Substitute
Washington, DC, June 27, 2018 – The inclusion of Senator Chuck Grassley’s (R-IA) “Actively Engaged in Farming” amendment in the Senate substitute package is a critical first step toward ensuring more equitable commodity subsidy programs. Family farmers nationwide have been waiting for these reforms, which passed with bipartisan support in both the House and Senate in 2013, only to be stricken from the final 2014 Farm Bill at the 11th hour by congressional leadership. The reforms that Senator Grassley has put forward will finally make the “limit” in “payment limit” mean something when it comes to taxpayer-funded commodity subsidies. We applaud Senate leadership for including much-needed payment limit reforms in their farm bill, and urge House members to adopt these provisions whole-heartedly when bill conferencing begins. Thanks to the Senate, Congress now has real options to reform the loophole-ridden commodity subsidy program in the final farm bill. We sincerely hope that commonsense will finally win the day in the 2018 Farm Bill, and that Congress will choose to stand for family farmers and the rights of taxpayers instead of kowtowing to the nation’s most influential mega-farms and wealthy non-farmer investors.
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About the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is a grassroots alliance that advocates for federal policy reform supporting the long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities. Learn more and get involved at: https://sustainableagriculture.net
Categories: Beginning and Minority Farmers, Commodity, Crop Insurance & Credit Programs, Farm Bill, Press Releases
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No one, and I mean no one not actively engaged in farming for food on the table should be helped financially in any way by the taxpaying citizens of this country. With that being said, I feel there should be more help given to farmers in need. The smaller farmer needs more protection, if not given you can expect more concentration; which in return equates to more political power.