Farmers Union Features Farm Bill Tweaks In Special Orders Of Business

The National Farmers Union has approved six special orders of business, prioritizing fairness for farmers, dairy policy reform, cooperative business models and the farm bill.

NFU President Rob Larew says the organization supports an increase in reference prices and tweaks to crop insurance in the next farm bill.

“While making sure crop insurance remains strong, are there ways to craft that in such a way that farmers are encouraged to continue to take advantage of crop insurance and we might find some savings there?”

He says a competition title in the farm bill is still a priority.

“Whether it’s a separate title in a farm bill, a combination of hopefully, some improvements in a farm bill, the conversation is moving forward.”

There hasn’t been much farm bill progress and Larew says lawmakers need to get through the appropriations process before lawmakers can work through the farm bill challenges.

“Sometimes those hardest decisions that there might be compromise on doesn’t have a clear shot to actually get serious about getting this bill done and on the floor.”

Brownfield interviewed Larew at the National Farmers Union Convention this week in Scottsdale, Arizona.