Cuts to the Farm Safety Net Jeopardize a National Asset
“When the well’s dry, we shall know the worth of water,” said Benjamin Franklin. Similarly, if ever we lose the hard-working independent family farms that take care of the nation’s landscape while producing a diverse set of crops more reliably and efficiently than any farm sector in history, then, and only then will we truly understand […]
Crop insurance essential for farmers
Farm policy used to focus on providing a safety net for traditional row crops. That was largely due to the Great Depression and its lingering effects. But farm policy has changed to reflect a country with a diverse agricultural sector. The backbone today is crop insurance, and for good reason: Policies can be customized for […]
New England Farmers Need Access to Affordable Crop Insurance
Although Federal Crop Insurance has been around since 1938, it was largely unused by the farmers because it was either unaffordable, unavailable, or both. Instead, when farmers experienced widespread losses from natural disasters like floods, hail, or hurricanes they turned to Congress for ad hoc disaster assistance. According to the Congressional Research Service, that assistance […]
Farmers Need Protection of Crop Insurance
When the homesteaders came to Kansas, they were looking for land to farm and a chance at the American dream. If they were like my family, they arrived here in a covered wagon, and many of us still live on the land where they began to build their dreams. But Kansas can be a cruel […]
