Farms.com Home   Ag Industry News

Farmers discuss Farm Bill issues with legislators during NSAC event

Farmers discuss Farm Bill issues with legislators during NSAC event

Producers talked about the programs farmers need to continue to be successful

By Diego Flammini
News Reporter
Farms.com

More than 20 farmers representing 13 agricultural U.S. states met with Farm Bill legislators during a National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) fly-in event in Washington D.C. earlier this week.

Producers discussed key issues from NSAC’s Farm Bill platform, which the organization released last month.

NSAC’s agenda includes modernizing crop insurance and budget recommendations.

The President’s 2018 USDA budget summary including eliminating some conservation programs. Farmers took the opportunity to tell lawmakers how vital those programs are to land stewardship, said Juli Obudzinski, deputy policy director with NSAC.

“Some of our farmers discussed the Farm Bill conservation programs, how they’re benefitting farmers, how they’re helping farmers be better stewards of the land and that (the programs) need to be protected during the next Farm Bill debate,” she told Farms.com today.


Juli Obudzinski
Photo NSAC

Other conversations focused on starting a new farm venture.

The cost of American farm real estate averaged $3,080 per acre this year, up $70 an acre from 2016, according to the USDA’s 2017 Land Values Summary.

New producers need to be reassured that they’ll be able to afford to start a farm, Obudzinki said.

“We’re seeing major challenges with folks that are trying to get started in farming,” she said. “We need to make sure the Farm Bill is one for the future and how it can invest in the next generation of farmers.”

And further discussion topics included linking local and regional food systems, as well as research opportunities and investments that allow farmers to diversify and scale up their operations.

The overarching theme to the event, Obudzinski said, is that farmers are meeting face-to-face with the people responsible for drafting the next Farm Bill.

And more farmers need to take the time to do the same.

“I can’t underscore how important it is for farmers to make their voices heard,” she said.

“There are a lot of programs at stake that completely run out of funding at the end of next September (when the current Farm Bill expires). Unless legislators hear from farmers and members of the rural community, they won’t have the information they need to make their decisions.”


Trending Video

Dr. David Rosero: Fat Quality in Swine Diets

Video: Dr. David Rosero: Fat Quality in Swine Diets

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. David Rosero from Iowa State University explores the critical aspects of fat quality and oxidation in swine diets. He discusses how different types of lipids affect pig performance and provides actionable insights on managing lipid oxidation in feed mills. Don’t miss this episode—available on all major platforms.

Highlight quote: "Increasing levels of oxidized fats in swine diets reduced the efficiency of feed utilization, increased mortality, and led to more pigs being classified as culls, reducing the number of full-value pigs entering the finishing barns."

Meet the guest: Dr. David Rosero / davidrosero is an assistant professor of animal science at Iowa State University. His research program focuses on conducting applied research on swine nutrition and the practical application of smart farming. He previously served as the technical officer for The Hanor Company, overseeing nutrition, research, and innovation efforts.