Agricultural organizations representing soybean growers, corn producers and the grain and feed industry are expressing support for a farm bill discussion draft released by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman, citing provisions aimed at strengthening the farm safety net, supporting market development and providing long-term policy certainty for U.S. agriculture.
The proposal has drawn positive initial reactions from the American Soybean Association, National Grain and Feed Association and National Corn Growers Association, all of which emphasized the need for Congress to complete work on a multiyear farm bill.
ASA President Scott Metzger said soybean farmers need the certainty and stability that only a five-year farm bill can provide and praised the framework for recognizing the challenges facing agriculture while including priorities important to soybean producers.
The soybean group highlighted provisions that would advance plant biostimulants, expand conservation technical assistance, improve fertilizer research, strengthen rural broadband deployment, increase access to technical service providers and support precision agriculture technologies.
The draft also includes measures intended to support market development and rural economic growth, including reauthorization of international food assistance programs such as McGovern-Dole, expanded access to guaranteed loans, additional flexibility within farm storage loan programs, continued support for the Conservation Reserve Program and codification of the ReConnect Rural Broadband Program.
For soybean growers, the legislation also contains provisions designed to expand domestic demand through new uses for soy-based products. These include increased funding for the BioPreferred Program, improvements to the Biorefinery Assistance Program and the Rural Energy for America Program, and a directive for USDA to develop a departmentwide sustainable aviation fuel strategy.
The National Grain and Feed Association said the proposal contains several priorities important to grain, feed and processing sectors, including reauthorization of the U.S. Grain Standards Act, continued support for export market development programs and maintenance of the current Conservation Reserve Program acreage cap.
NGFA noted that reauthorization of the U.S. Grain Standards Act is important for maintaining the federal grain inspection and weighing system that supports confidence in U.S. grain and oilseed markets domestically and internationally.
The organization also welcomed inclusion of key elements of the Innovative FEED Act, legislation intended to modernize the regulatory pathway for non-nutritive animal food ingredients that can support animal health and production while helping address food safety concerns.
Export promotion programs also remain a focus for the grain industry. NGFA pointed to continued support for the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Program as important tools for expanding international opportunities for U.S. agricultural products.
The National Corn Growers Association said it appreciates Boozman's efforts to advance farm bill legislation in the Senate and stressed the importance of a bipartisan process.
NCGA President Jed Bower said corn growers want USDA programs to become more effective, efficient and responsive through long-term policy improvements. He said the organization and its state affiliates are reviewing the proposal and will continue providing input as the legislative process moves forward.
Bower also noted that agriculture faces several legislative priorities this year beyond the farm bill, including Senate passage of year-round E15 legislation and renewal of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
While organizations are still reviewing details of the draft, industry groups broadly characterized the proposal as a step toward advancing farm bill negotiations. They expressed hope that the discussion draft can help build bipartisan support and move Congress closer to approving a long-term farm bill that provides certainty for farmers, agribusinesses and rural communities.
Sources:
American Soybean Association, "ASA Encouraged by Senate Farm Bill Framework"
National Grain and Feed Association, "NGFA welcomes Senate Farm Bill proposal, inclusion of U.S. Grain Standards Act reauthorization and IFEED legislative priorities"
National Corn Growers Association, "Corn Growers Weigh In on Senate's Farm Bill Draft"