October 19, 2011
Dear Senator:
We urge you to oppose amendments to the Fiscal Year 2012 Agriculture Appropriations Bill that propose to alter or negatively affect the mandatory funding for U.S. farm policies.
As you know, the agriculture appropriations bill, as reported by the committee, fully complies with discretionary spending guidelines.
This is the end of the fourth year of the current five-year farm bill upon which U.S. farmers and ranchers and their lenders have already made financial decisions. Amendments to an appropriations bill that would alter the terms of this contract with our producers are occurring at the wrong time and in the wrong venue.
The Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees earlier this week outlined their plans to participate in deficit reduction efforts in a letter to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction. We believe the U.S. Senate should await the results of the ongoing work of this bipartisan, bicameral effort.
Again, we respectfully urge you to oppose all amendments that would alter or reduce mandatory funding for U.S. farm policy in favor of the bipartisan, bicameral efforts to achieve budget savings while maintaining sound U.S. farm policy.
Sincerely,
American Association of Crop Insurers
American Farm Bureau Federation
American Soybean Association
American Sugar Alliance
American Sugarbeet Growers Association
American Sugar Cane League
Crop Insurance Professionals Association
Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau
Farm Credit Council
Florida Sugar Cane League
Hawaii Sugar Farmers
Independent Community Bankers of America
Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America
National Association of Professional Insurance Agents
National Association of Wheat Growers
National Barley Growers Association
National Corn Growers Association
National Cotton Council
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
National Farmers Union
National Milk Producers Federation
National Sorghum Producers
National Sunflower Association
Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers
South East Dairy Farmers Association
Southern Peanut Farmers Federation
Southwest Council of Agribusiness
US Canola Association
U.S. Beet Sugar Association
US Rice Producers Association
USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council
USA Rice Federation
Western Peanut Growers