Posted January 27, 2014
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) recently voiced its opposition to changes in the payment limitation reforms in the farm bill, according to an Agri-Pulse article available here.
Ferd Hoefner, NSAC policy director, expressed concern that the “bipartisan reform provision included in both the House and Senate farm bills” was under debate. There is also a concern that “conferees may kill new limits on the number of managers who can qualify for farm program payments, which are strongly opposed by southern farmers.”
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) expressed worry that conferees would change his language tightening the definition of “actively engaged” in “an effort to kill it.” The goal of the new definition is to “keep off-farm managers from qualifying for federal farm payments” which would save millions, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
The Center for Rural Affairs is also voicing is opposition to changes in the payment limitation provisions, according to a Farm Futures article available here.
While the farm bill has lingered for two years, a conference report may be unveiled this week, the Washington Post reports here.
“We remain optimistic that we can reach agreement in time to be on the floor next week,” House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) said in a message sent to his colleagues over the weekend.
For more information on farm bills, please visit the National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
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