National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson issued the following statement after the NFU Board of Directors passed a resolution today opposing an extension of the 2008 Farm Bill, which expired on Sept. 30, in lieu of passage of a new five-year farm bill. The vote by the Board was passed without objection:
“The clock is ticking and we are quickly going into the final hour of this lame duck session with rural America’s future hanging in the balance.
“Any short-term extension of the farm bill would only cause a litany of problems that will not be easily fixed when a new farm bill eventually is signed into law.
“We applaud the Senate and House Agriculture Committees for their continued efforts to negotiate for the passage of a comprehensive, five-year Farm Bill during this lame duck session. However, their commitment to long-term certainty for our farmers and ranchers has been trumped by House Speaker John Boehner’s inaction and refusal to pass legislation. We have reached a critical moment where lawmakers must quickly come together to pass a five-year farm bill.”
In June, the U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012 that saves $23 billion, while the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture passed its version of the farm bill in July, which would save $35 billion.
National Farmers Union has been working since 1902 to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through advocating grassroots-driven policy positions adopted by its membership.
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