| SEPTEMBER 11, 2012 -- They want a Farm Bill, and they want it now.
A coalition of more than 80 agricultural organizations – spanning a variety of commodities and interests – has banded together to deliver one, simple message: Let’s pass a Farm Bill.
The message – which started as statement and quickly got picked up by the Tulsa World opinion page – has evolved. Farmers and agricultural leaders representing virtually all crops and regions, are showing their support in various ways – many by signing a public letter of support, and many by traveling to DC for a rally on September 12 – the purpose of both, being to raise awareness for the need to pass a new, comprehensive, five-year farm bill.
“We appreciate all of the work done to date by Congress and look forward to working with the House to get a Farm Bill passed and into conference as soon as possible,” said Bob Stallman, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation and one of the members of the coalition, in an article which appeared in the Southwest Farm Press.
“In light of the drought, it is imperative for America’s farmers that a farm bill is passed this year.”
In spite of the heavy rains brought on by Hurricane Isaac, 63 percent of the contiguous United States is still experiencing moderate to severe drought conditions, and many farmers have said that without strong farm policy like crop insurance in place, they may not have been able to farm another year.
National Farmers Union president Roger Johnson added, “I’m very pleased to stand beside President Stallman as we represent all rural Americans at this critical time…”
Details about the rally and a list of the coalition’s members are below. For more information, please visit Farm Bill Now.
When: September 12, 2012 11 AM
Where: Union Square by the Capitol Reflecting Pool
• 25x’25 Alliance
• Agricultural Retailers Association
• American Beekeeping Federation
• American Farm Bureau Federation
• American Farmland Trust
• American Feed Industry Association
• American Pulse Association
• American Seed Trade Association
• American Sheep Industry Association
• American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers
• American Soybean Association
• American Sugar Alliance
• Association of Equipment Manufacturers
• Biobased Products Coalition
• Council of State Governments East
• Council of State Governments Midwest
• CropLife America
• Farm Credit Council
• National Association of Conservation Districts
• National Association of Counties
• National Association of Development Organizations
• National Association of Wheat Growers
• National Barley Growers Association
• National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
• National Corn Growers Association
• National Cotton Council
• National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
• National Farmers Organization
• National Farmers Union
• National Grange
• National Milk Producers Federation
• National Onion Association
• National Potato Council
• National Sorghum Producers
• National Sunflower Association
• Northharvest Bean Growers Association
• Northeast State Association for Agricultural Stewardship
• Produce Marketing Association
• Southern Peanut Farmers Federation
• Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance
• State Agriculture and Rural Leaders
• The Nature Conservancy
• Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
• United Dairymen of Arizona
• United Egg Producers
• United Fresh Produce Association
• U.S. Apple Association
• U.S. Canola Association
• U.S. Cattlemen’s
• U.S. Dry Bean Council
• USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council
• USA Rice Federation
• Western Growers Association
• Western Peanut Growers Association |
