National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Kevin Kester issued the following statement in response to the release of the 2018 Farm Bill conference report:
“The release of the Farm Bill conference report is encouraging news for farmers and ranchers across the country. Now it is time for Congress to get the 2018 Farm Bill across the finish line. In these uncertain times, agricultural operations and rural communities depend on the certainty the Farm Bill provides.
“NCBA was pleased to see authorization of a new Foot-and-Mouth Disease Vaccine (FMD) bank. The FMD bank will provide critical protection to rural economies, and we look forward to working with Secretary Perdue and Congress to address future funding needs.
”We ask Members of Congress to vote ‘yes’ and get the bill across the finish line before Christmas.”
Background
On December 10, 2018, members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees signed the 2018 Farm Bill conference report. The conference report is the final product of negotiations between the committees and must now be voted on by both chambers of Congress.