Ag Policy Blog

Pushing to get a farm bill done, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) on Monday launched a campaign to "encourages advocates and allies to contact their congressional delegation about the importance of passing a bipartisan, comprehensive farm bill in 2023 that will support and protect the corn industry."

Separately, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., in a letter to Democratic colleagues on Sunday, detailed some bills and policies the Senate could advance in July, including "common-sense farm policy." https://www.democrats.senate.gov/…

While the House and Senate agriculture committees have held a lot of hearings, so far neither committee has introduced a farm bill. Lawmakers from both parties and chambers continue to drop their own marker bills over various individual issues tied to the farm bill.

In its call to action, Tom Haag, a Minnesota farmer and NCGA president, noted the importance of this opportunity and the need for corn growers to send a strong, unified message to Capitol Hill.

"Farm bills only come around every five years. Sandwiched between legal jargon and formalities is language that directly affects the operations and livelihoods of corn growers," Haag said. "This bill funds programs that help us stay in business in the tough years; support our continued stewardship and conservation of the land; explore new foreign markets; and advance innovative research. The stakes are high. We need a comprehensive, bipartisan bill that will protect and bolster corn, America's crop."

NCGA stated the group has been working develop recommendations for the 2023 farm bill by surveying membership, processing input from Action Teams and grower leaders, and analyzing the political environment. You can find more information about NCGA's farm bill priorities here. NCGA has its Corn Congress and fly-in in Washington, D.C., from July 17-20.

Chris Clayton can be reached at Chris.Clayton@dtn.com

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