Evolution of Farm Policy Benefits Farmers, Taxpayers
Some stereotypes about U.S. farm policy just won’t die. For example, the belief that farmers get paid for not growing; or that benefits just go to big agribusinesses; or that farm spending is out of control. Such criticisms make splashy headlines but are no longer relevant thanks to the significant evolution of farm policy over […]
Keep Crop Insurance Affordable
Living through the drought of 2012 as an Illinois farmer gave me a whole new appreciation for risk management tools. There are things that farmers can do to try and deal with the curveballs served up by Mother Nature and with the ups and downs of market swings, but many things — like a massive […]
NCIS President Discusses the Important Role of Crop Insurance
NCIS President Tom Zacharias discussed the growing role of crop insurance as the primary risk management tool for farmers in a recent radio interview with Courtnay Doyle of Dignity Farm Network in southwestern Minnesota. “The 2014 Farm Bill solidified crop insurance as the primary tool for farmers in dealing with production and price swings,” said […]
Give Crop Insurance a Chance to Work
A year after the farm bill was enacted the debate over crop insurance is brewing again. As cost estimates grow for the 2014 farm bill’s commodity program, several members of Congress are calling for program cuts. These congressmen seem to have forgotten that while the farm bill was being debated in 2012, Illinois was at […]
Crop Insurance a Key for Producers
My husband and I have been farming in Southeastern Colorado for more than 40 years, and during that time it’s safe to say there have been a lot of changes not only in farming practices but also in farm policy. The biggest policy change through the years has been the affordability and availability of crop […]
Greg Wegis, Bakersfield, California
Convo 54
Farmers buy crop insurance to protect their crops from volatile weather and/or crop prices. It gives farmers and lenders peace of mind. The 2014 Farm Bill solidified crop insurance as the primary tool for farmers in dealing with production and price risk. Farmers urged Congress to strengthen crop insurance because it allows them to tailor […]
Farmers Grow Florida Jobs, Crop Insurance Protects Them
Pop quiz: Next to tourism, what Florida industry is the state’s largest employer? The answer isn’t healthcare, transportation, technology or even government. Agriculture is Florida’s second biggest job supplier, according to the University of Florida. “Two million jobs can be traced to the state’s agriculture, natural resources and related food industries — and not just […]
Convo 53
“Let’s face it, if we don’t do that, the government will step in anyway in that kind of disaster and all the costs will be paid by taxpayers. Washington D.C. can help provide the safety net, but they shouldn’t dictate the terms.”
Convo 52
We want crop insurance for all commodities in all states. It’s very clear every commodity wants to have crop insurance.
