|
|
|
|
|
In a letter to the full Senate, Sept. 21, American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman reinforced Farm Bureau's opposition to farm program payment limits to individuals being included in the 2006 fiscal year agricultural appropriations budget.
Stallman said such a change to the 2002 farm bill "in the midst of natural disasters and rising fuel and energy costs may be detrimental to the agricultural economy."
"AFBF respectfully and strongly encourages you to reject any proposals that would substantially alter the policies and delicate balance and allocation of financial resources embodied in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002," Stallman noted.
Prior to Farm Bureau reemphasizing its opposition to payment limits being part of the agricultural appropriations budget, a coalition of 15 farm organizations, including Farm Bureau, sent letters to Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Senate Committee on Appropriations chair, and Robert Bennett (R-Utah), Senate Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies subcommittee chair, calling for the senators and their colleagues to not substantially alter the policies and funding of the 2002 farm bill.
"The 2002 farm law, which was thoroughly debated for over two years, addresses many of the major problems faced by America's farmers and ranchers, rural businesses, rural communities and our neediest citizens. We strongly oppose any substantial changes to the priorities and programs embodied in the 2002 farm bill and ask you and your colleagues to do likewise. Our farmers and ranchers need a predictable, stable farm policy in order to continue to make responsible planting and marketing decisions," the letter explains.
