AFT Statement on Passage of Farm Bill out of Senate Agriculture Committee

By Tim Fink

“With the Farm Bill passing out of the Senate Agriculture Committee yesterday, AFT thanks Chairman Boozman, Ranking Member Klobuchar, and the other members of the Committee for their continued work on the legislation. AFT especially appreciates several of the amendments that improved upon the previous discussion draft. These improvements, many based on bipartisan marker bills, include providing mandatory funding for local food purchase agreements, support for farmer-to-farmer conservation education, and the establishment of an Office of Small Farms within USDA to strengthen program access and function for smaller-acreage farmers and ranchers. As the process moves forward, we recommend the addition of other key priorities – such as incorporating the bipartisan American Food Supply Chain Resiliency Act – into the legislation.  

The reauthorization of a Farm Bill remains both urgent and essential to provide the certainty farmers need to run viable operations, and to ensure that USDA programs work well for the people they are intended to serve. We strongly encourage continued negotiations across the aisle in hopes of passing a Farm Bill this year.”