Keep Crop Insurance Out of the Crosshairs
The passage of the 2014 Farm Bill was the beginning of a new chapter in U.S. farm policy, putting to rest most of the old farm support programs and replacing them with a reformed farm safety net and its centerpiece: Crop insurance. Unlike farm programs of the past, only farmers who purchase crop insurance enjoy […]
Insurance on crops boosts farms of all sizes
It is no secret that farm demographics demonstrate an alarming trend in American agriculture. The average age of the American farmer is rising while the number of beginning farmers is decreasing. These beginning farmers are typically younger than their more established counterparts with less access to credit and capital. I see this reality every day […]
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 […]
ICYMI: Farming needs strong policy and crop insurance
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal May 28, 2016 If I don’t take care of the land, then it won’t take care of me, so I consider myself one of the stewards of the earth. I know I’m not alone. My brethren in farming are also caretakers of the land, water and air. We want to be productive and […]
In Contrast to the Critics, Crop Insurance Does Not Discriminate
Perennial critics of farm policy have taken aim at one of the key risk management tools for farmers – crop insurance – and are ramping up efforts to spread misinformation about the program. Specifically, they are trying to distort how the premium discount works to leave some farmers with fewer risk management options. Their claims […]
Political Pundit Takes to the Airwaves to Discuss Agriculture
This week was a first for John McHenry, the well-known political pollster for North Star Opinion Research, who is in high demand during election season. McHenry has worked with countless national campaigns and has appeared on Fox News, CNN, NBC Nightly News, BBC, NPR and many others to share research analysis and commentary. But he’s […]
New Poll: Americans Overwhelmingly Support Farmers, Farm Policy, Crop Insurance
(OVERLAND PARK, Kan.)- Nearly 90 percent of Americans have a favorable view of farmers, and 92 percent said it was important to provide them with federal funding, according to a new national poll released today. Furthermore, positive marks cut across party lines, showing that a strong farm policy is a bipartisan issue. “Americans overwhelmingly […]
New Poll: Americans Overwhelmingly Support Farmers, Farm Policy, Crop Insurance
(OVERLAND PARK, Kan.) – Nearly 90 percent of Americans have a favorable view of farmers, and 92 percent said it was important to provide them with federal funding, according to a new national poll released today. Furthermore, positive marks cut across party lines, showing that a strong farm policy is a bipartisan issue. “Americans overwhelmingly like […]
Professional Critics Are Never Happy
Critics of farm policy are impossible to please and are adept at arguing out of both sides of their mouths. For example, when crop prices around the world are low, they often blame U.S. farm policy for the falling prices and criticize it for harming farmers in poor developing countries. Then, when crop prices rebound, […]
