By American Farm Bureau Federation
With the current Farm Bill set to expire in 2023, members of the American Farm Bureau Federation have begun to outline priorities for the next Farm Bill. Micheal Clements shares more about the grassroots process.
Clements: Conversations are underway regarding the next Farm Bill, both on Capitol Hill and across farm country. American Farm Bureau Federation Economist Shelby Myers says discussions focus on building on the 2018 package and assessing agriculture’s needs for the 2023 version.
Myers: Some of the conversations beginning on Capitol Hill have to do with how effective the 2018 Farm Bill has been and reviewing programs that currently exist in the 2018 Farm Bill, as well as what gaps exist for coverage, particularly in crop insurance and making sure that any issues that have come up in the last couple of years can be addressed.
Clements: Farm Bureau has also launched its grassroots policy development process, beginning with a Farm Bill working group.
Myers: Beyond the conversations that we’re having with Capitol Hill, members of Congress, internally we’ve also launched our Farm Bill Working Group of state Farm Bureau staff members to make sure that they are armed with the tools and information necessary to help members have these conversations, making sure that we’re prepared with economic analyses that can help members assess the situation that they see in front of them and be able to weigh options in order to have a better idea of what they’d like to advocate for.
Clements: Myers says Farm Bureau members can provide input starting at their county Farm Bureau.
Myers: This is the best time for Farm Bureau members to start talking about the 2023 Farm Bill, especially in the policy development conversations that are happening at the county Farm Bureau level, assessing your on-farm situation and learning how you’ve been impacted by the Farm Bill thus far, and maybe pros and cons that you’ve run into over the years and how you can carry that through the policy development process.
Clements: Learn more online at fb.org. Micheal Clements, Washington.
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