The American Farm Bureau Federation released its priorities earlier this week for what an organization press release said “may be the most consequential legislation for agriculture in 2023 – renewal of the farm bill. The priorities were identified by a working group of Farm Bureau members and staff from across the country.”
AFBF’s overarching priorities include:
- Continuing current farm bill program funding;
- Maintaining a unified farm bill that includes nutrition programs and farm programs together;
- Prioritizing risk management tools that include federal crop insurance and commodity programs;
- Ensuring adequate USDA staffing and resources to provide technical assistance.
AFBF President Zippy Duvall said, “The farm bill is the most significant piece of legislation that affects farmers and ranchers across the country. Since enactment of the 2018 farm bill, farmers have faced significant challenges from market volatility, increased input costs and devastating natural disasters. Despite these headwinds, farmers and ranchers have met the needs of consumers both here and abroad while continuing to improve our environmental stewardship.”
Duvall added, “We look forward to working with Congress to ensure the appropriate resources are available to craft farm policy that reduces food insecurity, bolsters national security and encourages long-term stability for all of our farm and ranch families.”
The priorities include more than 60 recommendations over multiple titles of the farm bill, including reference price increases for commodities, more transparency for milk checks, funding for conservation programs, rural development, and streamlining of nutrition programs to get food to those who need it most.
The AFBF board of directors voted unanimously to approve the recommendations. Final approval of policy priorities will be accomplished by a vote of delegates at the AFBF Convention in Puerto Rico in January 2023.
