By Jim Steadman
House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders released the text of the bipartisan, bicameral 2018 Farm Bill conference report on December 10, clearing the way for final Congressional review and passage.
In a statement released by the National Cotton Council (NCC), the organization voiced its support for the farm bill report – titled the
Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 – and urged Congress to quickly pass the measure and for the President to sign it into law.
The new farm bill culminates years of work and commitment by Members of Congress and their staff to update and improve current farm policy within the existing budget resources available.
“America’s farmers and ranchers are weathering the fifth year of severe recession, so passing a farm bill this week that strengthens the farm safety net is vitally important,” said House Ag Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX). “I am grateful to the President, Secretary Perdue and my leadership for standing fast for the hard-working farm and ranch families that clothe and feed us. I also appreciate the members of the conference committee for bringing this process one step closer to completion.”
“The 2018 Farm Bill is our opportunity to make the American food and agriculture systems work more efficiently,” added Senate Ag Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS). “We started this journey nearly two years ago. As promised, this farm bill provides much needed certainty and predictability for all producers – of all crops – across all regions across the country. I thank my counterparts in the Senate and House for coming to – and staying at – the table to reach a bipartisan, bicameral agreement for rural America.”
The new five-year farm bill will bring some much-needed certainty and predictability to U.S. agriculture, including the U.S. cotton industry. The bill provides more tools to help producers manage risk, and invests in research, outreach to beginning and underserved producers, local and organic food production, bioenergy, and access to new markets. It also addresses broadband, farm stress and mental health issues, and the opioid epidemic in rural areas and invests $300 million for prevention and response for animal pests and disease.
“The 2018 Farm Bill is a good bill for our farmers and everyone who eats,” said Ranking Senate Ag Committee Member Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). “Working together, we continued to expand the diversity of our agricultural economy, maintained a strong food and farm safety net, created new opportunities in our small towns and rural communities, and made significant investments in land and water conservation.”
The NCC statement noted that the continued safety net in the report is especially crucial, as many parts of the Cotton Belt have faced devastating natural disasters this growing season, compounding producers’ financial strains from retaliatory trade tariffs on U.S. cotton.
NCC Chairman Ron Craft said, “The NCC greatly appreciates the hard work and dedication of Chairmen Conaway (R-TX) and Roberts (R-KS) and Ranking Members Peterson (D-MN) and Stabenow (D-MI) and their staff to develop a final farm bill that recognizes the unique policy needs for all crops and regions across the country.
“Our industry is especially thankful to Chairman Conaway and his team for their leadership in advancing and protecting cotton’s priorities in the legislation,” Craft added. “In addition to these House and Senate agriculture committee leaders, Cotton Belt Members of Congress helped develop and move the farm bill through the House and Senate, and our industry is extremely grateful for their ongoing support of the cotton industry.”
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