A wide range of commodity groups demanded Saturday that lawmakers oppose a stopgap spending bill unless it includes economic assistance for farmers.
The demands raise the stakes for congressional leaders who have been unable to reach agreement on an economic package. House GOP leaders have so far refused to give in to Democratic demands that the legislation also roll Inflation Reduction Act conservation funding into the farm bill baseline.
After leaders of the House and Senate Ag committees announced Saturday morning that a stalemate had been reached on the aid package, one farm group after another issued statements in opposition to passing a continuing resolution to keep the government funded unless it includes the market relief for row crop producers.
Ag committee leaders also want to include in the CR a new one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill.
But passing the legislation without the economic assistance “would fall far short of what is needed to ensure the survival of thousands of producers across the country,” said Chuck Conner, president and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives.
“We urge congressional leaders to rethink this approach, negotiate in good faith, and keep their promises to farmers. Without such action, NCFC can not support such a bill and would urge a ‘no’ vote on the measure.”
USA Rice said it “adamantly opposes any extension of the 2018 farm bill or end-of-year federal government spending package that excludes meaningful economic assistance for rice farmers.”
Joe Nicosia, chairman of the National Cotton Council, said, “We urge Congressional leadership to return to the negotiating table to find a path forward on economic assistance. If not, we will vigorously oppose a supplemental spending package that does not provide the immediate support our producers need,”
Cotton farmers are seeing the largest projected decline in receipts among major row crops this year at 26.9%, while sales of corn are estimated to drop 20.8%, and soybean revenue is projected to decline 12.3%, according to USDA’s latest farm income forecast.
Wheat receipts are estimated to be down 7%, while receipts on rice are expected to decline 4.5%.
Total cash receipts for row crops are projected to fall 9.2%.
Kenneth Hartman Jr., president of the National Corn Growers Association, said, “We are deeply disappointed that congressional leadership appears to be at an impasse over crucial economic assistance for farmers in an end-of-the-year legislative package. … While these developments are disheartening, we call on Congress to resume negotiations and pass legislation that includes economic assistance while there is still time.”
Caleb Ragland, president of the American Soybean Association, said any legislation ”that does not include both economic and disaster assistance for our farmers who have suffered significantly from unforgiving market conditions, disastrous weather phenomena and for many, a combination of both, simply does not meet the mark for what agriculture and specifically, our soy growers, need.
“We will oppose any supplemental spending package that does not provide meaningful assistance to farmers who need help now to stay afloat in 2025 and beyond.”
Chandler Goule, CEO of the National Wheat Growers Association, said his members were "disappointed that leaders in Congress couldn't find common ground to provide relief to farmers experiencing a financial crisis and urge them to continue working on a package that meets the needs of rural America."
Specialty crops have been one of the brighter spots in the farm economy, but the International Fresh Produce Association joined other ag groups in calling on Congress to get a deal done on farm aid.
IFPA said lawmakers should “reengage to negotiate a Farm Bill extension that not only maintains current USDA programs but also robustly funds the vital economic relief and overdue natural disaster aid that the specialty crop producers desperately need."
Revenue for vegetable and melon cash receiptare expected to increase by 6.7%, while sales for fruits and nuts are expected to fall by 2.1%, according to USDA.
