Farm groups including AFBF are seeking funding increases in the upcoming farm bill. Mary Kay Thatcher, senior director of congressional relations, explained in Tuesday’s Newsline (March 21, 2017) that due to the current farm economy, farmers and ranchers need additional support from farm bill programs.

 

“You’ve got virtually every commodity that is in financial trouble,” Thatcher said. Further, “Cotton and dairy just have a miserable safety net, so those have to be fixed.” AFBF and others in the ag community are urging additional funding because “we’re just not going to be able to write a farm bill with a robust safety net to help these farmers unless we get additional funding.” Thatcher urged farmers to talk to their members of Congress and help them understand what’s happening in agriculture.