A recently-introduced Senate measure designed to improve the Agricultural Risk Coverage-County (ARC-CO) program in the farm bill is drawing strong support from leading agricultural organizations, including the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF).

The proposed measure, introduced last week by Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst and North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, is designed to strengthen the farm safety net at a time when farmers are struggling with low commodity prices and negative margins.  

Both senators are members of the Senate Agriculture Committee, which is expected to lead the writing of a new farm bill in 2018.

A revision the ARC-CO program is critical for Iowa farmers because the program is the state’s primary farm safety net, Ernst said. During the enrollment period for the programs in the 2014 farm bill, Iowa ...