NGFA joins crop insurance funding coalition

(Posted on 26/02/19)

The NGFA joined 59 other farm and agribusiness groups in signing a letter urging the US Congress not to propose cuts to federal crop insurance in the next budget proposals.

In the Feb. 19 letter addressed to the House and Senate Budget committees, agricultural stakeholder groups noted that farm income has dropped more than 45 percent over five years.

“An over-reliance on budget savings from the agriculture community and from crop insurance will unquestionably undermine rural economies,” the letter stated.

“It’s also important to note that in a time of uncertainty in the farming and ranching community – from natural disasters to trade disputes to government shutdowns – the public-private partnership that is crop insurance has been a consistent and reliable risk management tool,” the letter adds. “The certainty of federal crop insurance also offers lenders the assurances they need to continue to provide capital to America’s hardworking farmers and ranchers.”

The NGFA has long supported a reliable federal crop insurance system for its members’ farmer-customers. The 2018 farm law, which President Trump signed on Dec. 20, renewed the current federal crop insurance program. “The importance of crop insurance was just reaffirmed less than two months ago with the passage and signing of the 2018 Farm Bill, and we urge you to oppose cuts to crop insurance during this year’s budget process,” the groups concluded in both letters.

The National Grain and Feed Association, founded in 1896, is a broad-based, non-profit trade association that represents and provides services for grain, feed and related commercial businesses. Its activities focus on enhancing the growth and economic performance of U.S. agriculture.