After the recent introduction of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 (2024 Farm Bill), various industry and stakeholder groups from across the country have come out in support of the legislation. Here are just a few of the quotes offering praise and support for the bill.
“The National Cotton Council applauds House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “G.T.” Thompson for producing a Farm Bill that significantly increases the support levels for cotton producers, who have been weighed down by the recent rise in on-farm production costs. This legislation also gives growers more affordable options for their risk management strategies, makes important improvements in the marketing loan program, and restores critical support for our domestic textile manufacturers. The NCC urges this legislation to move forward in a bi-partisan manner with our industry committed to working with the leadership of the House and Senate to ensure final passage in 2024,” said the National Cotton Council.
“APPA applauds the House Agriculture Committee for their diligent work and care for farmers that shows throughout this bill. We urge this legislation to move forward in a bipartisan manner and we are committed to working with the U.S. House and Senate leadership to ensure this legislation is passed this year,” said the Alabama Peanut Producers Association.
“USPF applauds the House Agriculture Committee for their diligent work and care for farmers that shows throughout this bill. We urge this legislation to move forward in a bipartisan manner and we are committed to working with the U.S. House and Senate leadership to ensure this legislation is passed this year,” said Jamie Brown, U.S. Peanut Federation.
“The American Cotton Shippers Association (ACSA) strongly supports the Chairman’s mark of the farm bill and has been vocal in soliciting support for the policy iteration that your team has developed. We applaud you for your personal leadership and commitment to developing a solution that can become bipartisan and address the key shortfalls in the safety net,” said William H. “Buddy” Allen, President and CEO, American Cotton Shippers Association.
“APSA applauds the House Agriculture Committee for their diligent work and care for farmers that shows throughout this bill. We urge this legislation to move forward in a bipartisan manner and we are committed to working with the U.S. House and Senate leadership to ensure this legislation is passed this year,” said John T. Powell, Executive Director, American Peanut Shellers Association.
“Southern Cotton Growers applauds you each for your leadership developing the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024… Southern Cotton Growers looks forward to working with you each, as well as Committee members, to continue the progressive discussions for passage of the Act,” said Philip Edwards, President, Southern Cotton Growers.
“As the Committee on Agriculture approaches the legislative markup for the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) appreciates your work to support America’s farmers, rural communities, and consumers through the farm bill,” said Harold Wolle, Jr., President, National Corn Growers Association.
“We are very pleased with the Farm Bill framework released by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson. Since 2023, Chairman Thompson has gone to great lengths to meet with America’s cattle producers in every region of the country and craft a Farm Bill that supports their unique needs. We are especially pleased by the Chairman’s focus on voluntary conservation programs that are increasingly popular with cattle producers, animal health provisions that protect the U.S. cattle herd, and investments in food security that support our broader national security,” said Ethan Lane, Vice President of Government Affairs, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
As both committees continue their consideration of policies for the next farm bill, dairy exporters are eager to see a doubling of funding for the Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development program (FMD) to support further expansion of the sale of American-made dairy products around the world, to ensure that the bill establishes a robust new process for safeguarding common food and beverage names in international markets and to enhance USDA’s participation in the decision-making process regarding global food aid programs,” said Krysta Harden, President & CEO, U.S. Dairy Export Council.
“We commend House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, R-PA, for including language in the House farm bill to restore the previous “higher of” Class I mover formula. The previous mover served dairy farmers well for decades, while the current mover has cost dairy farmers more than $1 billion in Class I skim milk revenue and continuously undermines orderly marketing of milk. We also are grateful for the inclusion of language to require mandatory manufacturing plant cost studies to help inform future discussions on make allowances, another critical component of the Federal Milk Marketing Order system. We are excited for the House’s upcoming farm bill markup and thank the members in both parties who have supported each of these priorities,” said Gregg Doud, President & CEO, National Milk Producers Federation.
“AFBF appreciates the work of Chairman Thompson and the entire House Agriculture Committee for its work in drafting a new, modernized farm bill. America’s farmers and ranchers need the stability that the farm bill provides so they can withstand the unforeseen challenges of growing the food, fuel and fiber America’s families rely on. Conservation and research programs help farmers protect the resources they’ve been entrusted with and enable American agriculture to remain on the forefront of innovation. Nutrition programs also give a helping hand to families struggling to make ends meet. We look forward to taking a deep dive into the House farm bill draft in advance of next week’s markup. We hope to see the Senate Agriculture Committee’s version soon so we can move forward with getting the farm bill passed. It’s too important to wait. America’s families are counting on Congress to get this done,” said Zippy Duval, President, American Farm Bureau Federation.
“We applaud Chairman Thompson for moving a bill forward in the House that supports a robust conservation title, and we hope the committees will continue working across the aisle to achieve a bipartisan solution that ensures farmers and ranchers can feed the nation and world,” said Adam Putnam, CEO, Ducks Unlimited.
“It is a welcome development to see progress toward a new and improved farm bill, and we are hopeful that meaningful, bipartisan legislation will be advanced this year. Farmers face significant headwinds – including an unfavorable farm income outlook and volatility in access to export markets – and strengthening the farm bill is more important than ever,” said Josh Gackle, President, American Soybean Association.
“Modern forestry is a unifying issue that brings both sides of the aisle together in support of common-sense innovations and smart policy. The forestry title of Chairman Thompson’s draft legislation bolsters strong markets for wood products that will ensure our forests can continue providing clean air and water, wildlife habitat, and good-paying rural jobs. We look forward to Congress passing a common-sense, bipartisan Farm Bill that supports the forestry sector and the rural communities it sustains,” said David Tenny, President & CEO of National Alliance of Forest Owners.
“Every year we lose more and more intact working forests to fragmentation and conversion. Since 2007, we have lost more than 7.5 million acres. The Conservation Fund is dedicated to addressing the threat of forestland conversion and urges Congress to create FCEP to provide an important, missing conservation tool to preserve working forests. We applaud U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman U.S. Representative Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, R-P.A., and Ranking Member U.S. Representative David Scott, D-G.A., for supporting FCEP. We look forward to continuing working with the House and Senate to get this pragmatic and bipartisan solution included in the Farm Bill,” said Larry Selzer, president and CEO of The Conservation Fund.
NASDA applauds Chairman Thompson for beginning the process of creating the next farm bill,” McKinney said. “With the release of the legislative text, NASDA remains committed to advocating for a bipartisan farm bill that will secure a commitment to American agriculture and the critical food and nutritional assistance programs for those who need it most. Signing a farm bill into law is vital to the food and agriculture sector which benefits our economy, accounting for roughly one-fifth of U.S. economic activity and supporting nearly 23 million jobs. We welcome the opportunity to work with the House Agriculture Committee as they begin debating the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024,” said Ted McKinney, CEO, National Association State Departments of Agriculture.
“With more than $11.5 billion in deferred maintenance, our nation’s agricultural researchers, Cooperative Extension specialists, and educators have dealt with deteriorating facilities while ensuring exceptional innovation, outreach, and education. Investment in our agricultural research facilities will ensure our nation can continue to take on the local, regional, national, and global challenges. The inclusion of the Research Facilities Act is a critical first step to ensuring the U.S. remains the world’s most innovative, productive, and vibrant agricultural sector. As Congress moves the Farm Bill forward, we urge lawmakers to advance these critical investments,” said Mark Becker, President, Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities.
“The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 sends a clear message that Food for Peace should be delivering as much American grown food to as many hungry people as possible. This is a mission American wheat farmers are proud to support, and we look forward to seeing these important reforms carried through the farm bill process,” said Peter Laudeman, Director of Trade Policy, U.S. Wheat Associates.
“National Sorghum Producers believes addressing food insecurity in the world’s most unstable regions is not only a moral duty but a practical necessity. The reforms in the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2024 enhance our ability to provide crucial food aid more efficiently and effectively to those who need it, and sorghum farmers stand committed to supporting these reforms as the farm bill process moves forward,” said Craig Meeker, Chairman, National Sorghum Producers.
“Forest conservation easements are an essential means for ensuring forests are protected for future generations. Expanding this opportunity to private and tribal landowners safeguards our working forests and enhances wildlife habitat, water supplies, continued carbon sequestration and so much more that forests provide. American Forests applauds the House Agriculture Committee for the inclusion of FCEP in their Farm Bill proposal,” said Jad Daley, President & CEO of American Forests.
“America’s pork producers appreciate Chairman G.T. Thompson’s willingness to listen, put pen to paper, and address the most pressing issues facing the agriculture industry across the country – a prime example of how our government should work. The inclusion of pork producers’ top priorities in the 2024 House Farm Bill is a testament to our industry’s ability to unite and speak up about our common challenges,” said Lori Stevermer, President, National Pork Producers Council.
“TFI applauds the progress being made to introduce and pass a Farm Bill in 2024. The text released today by Ag Chairman GT Thompson contains key priorities for the industry that support efforts to encourage greater adoption of nutrient stewardship and conservation practices by growers across the country. These practices ensure our dinner tables remain full while minimizing impacts to our shared environment,” said Corey Rosenbusch, President, The Fertilizer Institute.
“AFT believes that it is critical to get a Farm Bill passed in 2024 to provide farmers with the certainty they need to run viable operations and to ensure greater long-term conservation funding. AFT applauds Chair Thompson for recognizing this once-in-a-generation opportunity to build baseline for conservation with Inflation Reduction Act funding. This would ensure that more producers through future farm bills can access the support needed to protect their land and implement practices that improve their viability and resilience. This legislation would also improve the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) and the Regional Conservation Partnership (RCPP) program, especially for farm and ranch land protection, and would help additional states and Tribes launch and strengthen soil health programs,” said Tim Fink, Policy Director, American Farmland Trust.
“The United States loses approximately half a million acres of privately owned forest land to development each year, at the expense of clean water, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, timber supplies and more. Land trusts are uniquely positioned to help private landowners protect and manage their forested lands while also educating the public about the benefits of forest conservation to the environment and economy. FCEP enjoys broad, bipartisan support and will allow land trusts to work with the federal government to ensure that private forests remain forests,” said Andrew Bowman, President & CEO of the Land Trust Alliance.
“The National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA) strongly supports the inclusion of this new framework to strengthen health requirements to safeguard animal and public health from the risks associated with the importation of dogs into the United States,” said Patti Strand, President, National Animal Interest Alliance.
“We thank the House Agriculture Committee for the strengthened U.S. sugar policy contained in this bill which will help ensure that America’s more than 11,000 sugar farm families and more than 151,000 workers can continue producing an essential ingredient in our food supply, maintain resilient supply chains, and meet the needs of American families and all of our customers. Our farm families need a bipartisan, bicameral, and highly effective Farm Bill. The legislation released by Chairman Thompson is the first major step towards the enactment of the 2024 Farm Bill. We stand ready to work with Chairman Thompson and all congressional leaders to make this shared goal a reality this year. This effort, including the farm safety net features for sugar farm families in Chairman Thompson’s bill today, merits lawmakers’ strong support,” said the American Sugar Alliance.
“This pivotal legislation promises significant benefits for private forest landowners nationwide. We are thrilled that one of FLA’s policy priorities, the Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act, was included in the bill’s framework, alongside initiatives championed by our esteemed national partners. Nonetheless, we recognize the importance of ensuring landowners have the safety net that they currently lack in order to recover and reforest after a natural disaster,” said Craig Anderson, Director of Government Affairs, Forest Landowner’s Association.
“Family farmers and ranchers need a strong farm safety net and opportunities for the next generation. We thank Chairman Thompson for today’s progress toward a new five-year farm bill that can achieve those goals,” said Rob Larew, President, National Farmers Union.
“NACD appreciates the inclusion of many of our priorities in this legislation and we look forward to working with you in a bipartisan and bicameral manner to support the timely passage of farm bill that bolsters American agriculture and locally led conservation in every part of the country,” said Kim LaFleur, President, National Association of Conservation Districts.
“Informed by its members’ unique scientific training and knowledge, the AVMA offers strong support for Section 12007 of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, which protects veterinarians’ freedom and flexibility to provide the best care for farm animals,” said the American Veterinary Medical Association.
“The Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) greatly appreciates the hard work that has gone into this critical first step in the farm bill process. We are especially pleased to see investments made to improve the farmer experience. The improvements made to the affordability of crop insurance, particularly for beginning and veteran farmers and ranchers, will increase affordability for the future generation of farmers and ranchers, while provisions such as the inflation adjustment for administrative and operating expenses will ultimately help the private sector continue to deliver gold-star service to farmers. These improvements get at the heart of our mission – to deliver more policies to more farmers in more regions of the country in an efficient and sustainable manner. Crop insurance is the cornerstone of risk management for America’s farmers and ranchers, and we look forward to working with both sides of the aisle and Capitol to protect and further improve the program through the farm bill process,” said Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau.
“This text from the House Ag chair provides real support to our sheep producers. The text is very favorable toward the sheep industry in areas such as foreign animal disease management, drought and feed losses, foreign market development programs – which we are heavily reliant on for marketing American wool – as well as the wool marketing loan. The wool marketing loan is the only sheep-specific risk management tool that is available to American wool growers, so it’s important that the program can respond to the current wool market,” said Brad Boner, President, American Sheep Industry Association.
“The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) is pleased to support Chairman Thompson’s efforts to pass a new five-year Farm bill out of committee this week. Passing a Farm bill this year is critical to providing much needed economic certainty for America’s agricultural industry. We are confident House and Senate agriculture committee leadership will find an agreement that works for America’s farmers and ranchers and ensure our nation’s food, fiber, and fuel continues to meet the needs of a growing population. We urge members of the House Committee on Agriculture to get this process started by passing the bill in committee,” said the Agricultural Retailers Association.
“NPF sincerely appreciates the hard work that went into producing the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024. This legislation will support pecan producers who have struggled in recent years due to increases in farm inputs, labor shortages, trade barriers, and supply chain disruptions,” said Larry Don Womack, Chairman, National Pecan Federation.
The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) is pleased that the House of Representatives is taking the first step in the farm bill reauthorization process by introducing and scheduling a markup of the Farm, Food, and Natural Security Act of 2024. NAWG is committed to working with committee members and their staff to ensure that the bill addresses the priorities of wheat farmers and can move forward in a bipartisan fashion to allow for its ultimate passage in both chambers,” said Keeff Felty, President, National Association of Wheat Growers.
“The Autauga Quality Cotton Association, a cotton marketing cooperative serving members in ten states from Texas to North Carolina, strongly supports the Chairman’s mark of the Farm Bill and urges the House Committee on Agriculture to report this legislation to the full House of Representatives by a strong bipartisan vote,” said Jeff Thompson, Executive Vice President, Autauga Quality Cotton Association.
“The CWAA greatly appreciates the hard work of Chairman Thompson and the House Agriculture Committee in working to strengthen the safety net for our nation’s farm and ranch families, including meaningful improvements for our cotton producers, textile mills, warehouses, and all of the segments of the cotton industry. We hope that the Committee and the full House will move this legislation forward so it may be conferenced with a Senate Farm Bill and sent to the President for signature yet this year. U.S. agriculture could certainly use that kind of certainty amidst so much uncertainty in recent years,” said the Cotton Warehouse Association of America.