Washington (Dec. 19, 2007)—Organizations representing most farmers in America sent a letter today to key legislators asking them to “complete a conference report to the Farm Bill by no later than late January or early February.”
“Based upon the exceptional work of both the House and the Senate, we are confident that a strong new Farm Bill can be approved by Congress and signed into law by the President early next year,” read the letter to Senators Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) and Congressmen Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) and Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.).
The expedited timeline is essential so producers have some certainty about the farm safety net as they begin making financial decisions for the upcoming year and prepare to head into the field, explained the 33 groups that signed the letter.
The organizations also pointed out their support for the bipartisan, five-year Farm Bills passed by the House and Senate, which were approved “in the face of some very considerable challenges.”
“Thank you once again for your extraordinary work in the passage of legislation that we believe will greatly improve the food, fiber, and energy security of our nation,” the letter concluded.
The letter was signed by the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Farmers Union, and associations representing crop insurers and most agricultural commodities.