Letter
Dear Chairmen Whitehouse and Arrington and Ranking Members Grassley and Boyle:
As you develop the fiscal year 2024 budget in this farm bill reauthorization year, we write to express our strong support for providing the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and House Committee on Agriculture with sufficient budgetary resources to write a new bipartisan, multi-year, comprehensive, and meaningful piece of legislation.
Just as there are many pressures on the federal budget, there are many pressures on U.S. farmers and others throughout the agricultural supply chain who provide food, feed, fuel, fiber, and other products to consumers across the United States and abroad.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), international sales of U.S. farm and food products reached $196 billion in 2022. The leading market for these products is marked with geopolitical volatility: China. During the trade war with China that began in 2018, U.S. agriculture endured significant market impacts, which unfortunately revealed gaps in the farm safety net. If a trade war with our largest trading partner hardly triggered the farm safety net provided in the current farm bill – a Title I safety net that has been shrinking over the past 20 years – it is difficult to envision a scenario that would provide meaningful assistance without significant improvements. Continuing rising tensions with this important trading partner underscore the need in the next farm bill for a more meaningful, predictable farm safety net and the need to invest more into trade promotion programs to help diversify agricultural markets.
Market volatility with China is only one example of the many disruptions impacting U.S. agriculture during the life of the current farm bill. The Russian invasion of Ukraine, COVID-19 and other supply chain disruptions, non-tariff trade barriers erected by multiple countries, and devastating natural disasters have tested the effectiveness of current farm policy. Increased production input costs have as well, with USDA projecting that most expense categories will remain above their 2021 levels in 2023 both in nominal and inflation-adjusted dollars. These projected high input costs, coupled with lower projections for many crop cash receipts, are cause for concern for farm country: USDA’s February 2023 Farm Income Forecast publication projects a 20.7 percent decline in net cash farm income in 2023 relative to 2022.
Projections such as this, when realized, often result in financial stress and calls for ad hoc or supplemental disaster assistance to farmers and ranchers – that is, assistance outside of the farm bill. In fact, between 2018-2021, ad hoc assistance made up approximately 70% of direct farm payments due to challenges described above. Ad hoc assistance is necessary in times of need but is not a timely, reliable, or predictable safety net for farmers and ranchers. The upcoming farm bill reauthorization provides an opportunity to address very real needs in agriculture and rely less on off-budget ad hoc assistance.
In addition to needs highlighted above, farm bill budget resources are needed for protecting and enhancing crop insurance to assist with volatile weather and crop loss, improving access to voluntary conservation incentives, addressing rural development needs, investing in research for innovation and competitiveness, providing opportunities to help the nation become more energy independent and food secure, and supporting solutions to address logistics challenges.
Sufficient budgetary resources will be needed to craft a new bipartisan, multi-year, comprehensive, and meaningful piece of legislation. As you work to build the federal budget for fiscal year 2024, we seek your support for providing sufficient resources to the committees to craft the next farm bill.
Sincerely,
National Associations
Agricultural Retailers Association
Amcot
American Agri-Women
American Association of Crop Insurers
American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges
American Bankers Association
American Cotton Producers
American Cotton Shippers Association
American Farm Bureau Federation
American Farmland Trust
American Feed Industry Association
American Pistachio Growers
American Pulse Association
American Seed Trade Association
American Society of Agronomy
American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers
American Society of Plant Biologists
American Soybean Association
American Sugar Alliance
American Sugarbeet Growers Association
American Veterinary Medical Association
AmericanHort
Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Foundation
Aquatic Plant Management Society
Association of Equipment Manufacturers
Biotechnology Innovation Organization
The Breakthrough Institute
Cherry Marketing Institute
Corn Refiners Association
Cotton Growers Warehouse Association
Cotton Warehouse Association of America
Cottonseed and Feed Association
Council of Producers and Distributors of Agrotechnology
Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau
Crop Insurance Professionals Association
Crop Science Society of America
CropLife America
Delta Waterfowl
Ducks Unlimited
Farm Credit Council
Farm Journal Foundation
The Fertilizer Institute
Global Cold Chain Alliance
Hop Growers of America
Independent Community Bankers of America
International Certified Crop Advisers
International Dairy Foods Association
International Fresh Produce Association
National Alfalfa and Forage Alliance
National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants
National Association of Conservation Districts
National Association of Landscape Professionals
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
National Association of Wheat Growers
National Barley Growers Association
National Black Growers Council
National Christmas Tree Association
National Coalition for Food and Agricultural Research
National Corn Growers Association
National Cotton Council
National Cotton Ginners Association
National Cottonseed Products Association
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
National Council of Textile Organizations
National Farmers Union
National Grain and Feed Association
National Grange
National Milk Producers Federation
National Onion Association
National Peach Council
National Pork Producers Council
National Potato Council
National Sorghum Producers
National Sunflower Association
The Nature Conservancy
North American Blueberry Council
North American Meat Institute
North American Millers’ Association
North American Renderers Association
Pheasants Forever
Quail Forever
Rural and Agriculture Council of America
Society of American Florists
Soil Science Society of America
Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance
Supporters of Agricultural Research (SoAR) Foundation
U.S. Apple Association
U.S. Beet Sugar Association
U.S. Canola Association
U.S. Cattlemen’s Association
U.S. Durum Growers Association
U.S. Peanut Federation
U.S. Poultry & Egg Association
U.S. Rice Producers
U.S. Sweet Potato Council
USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council
USA Rice
Weed Science Society of America
Wine Institute
State and Regional Associations
Agribusiness Association of Iowa
Agricultural Council of Arkansas
Alabama Bankers Association
Alabama Cotton Commission
Alabama Farmers Federation
Alabama Soybean and Corn Association
Alaska Farm Bureau
Almond Alliance
Arizona Cotton Ginners Association
Arizona Cotton Growers
Arizona Farm Bureau Federation
Arkansas Community Bankers
Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation
Arkansas Rice Federation
Arkansas Rice Growers Association
Arkansas Soybean Association
BankIn Minnesota
Bluegrass Community Bankers Association
California Agricultural Irrigation Association
California Alfalfa & Forage Association
California Association of Wheat Growers
California Bean Shippers Association
California Cherry Growers and Industry Association
California Citrus Mutual
California Community Banking Network
California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association
California Farm Bureau Federation
California Fresh Fruit Association
California Grain & Feed Association
California Pear Growers
California Pork Producers Association
California Rice Commission
California Seed Association
California Specialty Crops Council
California State Floral Association
California Sweetpotato Council
California Table Grape Commission
California Warehouse Association
California Women for Agriculture
Carolinas Cotton Growers Cooperative
Colorado Association of Wheat Growers
Colorado Corn Growers Association
Colorado Farm Bureau
Colorado Potato Legislative Association
Community Bankers Association of Georgia
Community Bankers Association of Illinois
Community Bankers Association of Kansas
Community Bankers Association of Ohio
Community Bankers Association of Oklahoma
Community Bankers of Iowa
Community Bankers of Michigan
Community Bankers of Washington
Connecticut Farm Bureau Association
Corn Growers of North Carolina
Cotton Producers of Missouri
Dairy Producers of Utah
Delaware Farm Bureau
Delta Council
Empire State Potato Growers
Florida Agri-Women
Florida Cotton Producers Association
Florida Farm Bureau Federation
Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association
Florida Rice Growers
Food Producers of Idaho
Georgia Agribusiness Council
Georgia Corn Growers Association
Georgia Cotton Commission
Georgia Farm Bureau Federation
Georgia/Florida Soybean Association
Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association
Georgia Urban Agriculture Council
Grain and Feed Association of Illinois
Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation
Hop Growers of Washington
ICBA of New Mexico
Idaho Alfalfa and Clover Seed Growers Association
Idaho Grain Producers Association
Idaho Hay and Forage Association
Idaho Hop Growers Association
Idaho Noxious Weed Control Association
Idaho Nursery & Landscape Association
Idaho Oilseed Commission
Idaho Onion Growers’ Association
Idaho-Oregon Fruit and Vegetable Association
Idaho Pest Management Association
Idaho Potato Commission
Illinois Corn Growers Association
Illinois Farm Bureau
Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association
Illinois Soybean Association
Independent Bankers Association of New York State
Independent Banks of South Carolina
Independent Community Bankers of Colorado
Independent Community Bankers of South Dakota
Independent Community Banks of North Dakota
Indiana Bankers Association
Indiana Corn Growers Association
Indiana Farm Bureau
Indiana Soybean Alliance
Iowa Corn Growers Association
Iowa Farm Bureau Federation
Iowa Soybean Association
Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association
Kansas Association of Wheat Growers
Kansas Corn Growers Association
Kansas Cotton Association
Kansas Cotton Ginners
Kansas Farm Bureau
Kansas Grain and Feed Association
Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association
Kansas Pork Association
Kansas Soybean Association
Kentucky Corn Growers Association
Kentucky Small Grain Growers Association
Kentucky Soybean Association
Louisiana Agricultural Consultants Association
Louisiana Bankers Association
Louisiana Cotton and Grain Association
Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation
Louisiana Independent Cotton Warehouse Association
Louisiana Rice Producer Group
Maine Farm Bureau Association
Maine Potato Board
Malheur County Onion Growers Association
Maryland Bankers Association
Maryland Farm Bureau
Maryland Grain Producers Association
Massachusetts Association of Lawn Care Professionals
Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation
Michigan Agri-Business Association
Michigan Corn Growers Association
Michigan Farm Bureau
Michigan IPM Alliance
Michigan Soybean Association
Mid-Atlantic Soybean Association
Midwest Council on Agriculture
Midwest Forage Association
Minnesota Agri-Growth Council
Minnesota Area II Potato Council
Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers
Minnesota Canola Council
Minnesota Corn Growers Association
Minnesota Crop Production Retailers
Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation
Minnesota Soybean Growers Association
Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation
Mississippi Rice Council
Mississippi Soybean Association
Missouri Corn Growers Association
Missouri Farm Bureau
Missouri Independent Bankers Association
Missouri Rice Council
Missouri Soybean Association
Montana Agricultural Business Association
Montana Farm Bureau Federation
Montana Independent Bankers
Montana Potato Improvement Association
Nebraska Agri-Business Association
Nebraska Cooperative Council
Nebraska Corn Growers Association
Nebraska Dry Bean Commission
Nebraska Dry Pea and Lentil Commission
Nebraska Farm Bureau
Nebraska Independent Community Bankers
Nebraska Soybean Association
Nebraska Wheat Board
Nebraska Wheat Growers Association
Nevada Farm Bureau Federation
New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau
New York Corn and Soybean Growers Association
New York Farm Bureau
New York Green Industry Council
Nezperce Prairie Grass Growers Association
North Carolina Bankers Association
North Carolina Christmas Tree Association
North Carolina Cotton Producers Association
North Carolina Egg Association
The North Carolina Peanut Growers Association
North Carolina Small Grain Growers Association
North Carolina Soybean Producers Association
North Carolina State Grange
North Carolina SweetPotato Commission
North Central Weed Science Society
North Dakota Corn Growers Association
North Dakota Grain Growers Association
North Dakota Soybean Growers Association
Northarvest Bean Growers Association
Northeast Dairy Producers Association
Northeastern Weed Science Society
Northern Canola Growers Association
Northland Potato Growers Association
Northwest Agricultural Cooperative Council
NYS Agribusiness Association
Ohio AgriBusiness Association
Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association
Ohio Farm Bureau
Ohio Soybean Association
Oklahoma Agribusiness Retailers Association
Oklahoma Cotton Council
Oklahoma Farm Bureau
Oklahoma Grain and Feed Association
Oklahoma Seed Trade Association
Oklahoma Sorghum Growers
Oklahoma Soybean Association
Oklahoma Wheat Growers Association
Olive Oil Commission of California
Oregon Association of Nurseries
Oregon Bankers Association
Oregon Cattlemen’s Association
Oregon Dairy Farmers Association
Oregon Farm Bureau
Oregon Hop Growers Association
Oregon Potato Commission
Oregon Wheat Growers League
Oregon Women for Agriculture
Oregonians for Food and Shelter
Pacific Coast Renderers Association
Pacific Egg and Poultry Association
Pacific Seed Association
Palmetto AgriBusiness Council
Panhandle Peanut Growers Association
PennAg Industries Association
Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers
Pennsylvania Cooperative Potato Growers
Pennsylvania Farm Bureau
Plains Cotton Growers, Inc.
Plant California Alliance
PNW Canola Association
Potato Growers of Michigan, Inc.
Puget Sound Seed Growers Association
Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association
Rhode Island Farm Bureau Federation
Rolling Plains Cotton Growers
San Joaquin Valley Quality Cotton Growers
Snake River Sugarbeet Growers Association
South Carolina Corn and Soybean Association
South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation
South Carolina Peach Council
South Dakota Agri-Business Association
South Dakota Corn Growers Association
South Dakota Farm Bureau
South Dakota Soybean Association
South Dakota Wheat Growers Association
South Texas Cotton and Grain Association
Southeastern Cotton Ginners Association, Inc.
Southern Cotton Ginners Association
Southern Cotton Growers, Inc.
Southern Crop Production Association
Southern Idaho Potato Cooperative
Southern Rolling Plains Cotton Producers Association
Southern Weed Science Society
Southwest Council of Agribusiness
St. Lawrence Cotton Growers Association
Synergistic Hawaii Agriculture Council
Tennessee Bankers Association
Tennessee Corn Growers Association
Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation
Tennessee Soybean Association
Texas Agri-Women
Texas Association of Dairymen
Texas Corn Producers Association
Texas Cotton Ginners Association
Texas Farm Bureau
Texas Grain Sorghum Association
Texas Rice Producers Legislative Group
Texas Soybean Association
Texas Wheat Producers Association
Vermont Bankers Association
Vermont Feed Dealers and Manufacturers Association
Virginia Agribusiness Council
Virginia Association of Community Banks
Virginia Cattlemen’s Association
The Virginia Christmas Tree Growers Association
Virginia Cotton Growers
Virginia Crop Production Association
Virginia Farm Bureau
Virginia Grain Producers Association
Virginia Peanut Growers Association
Virginia Soybean Association
Washington Association of Wheat Growers
Washington Farm Bureau
Washington Friends of Farms and Forests
Washington Mint Growers Association
Washington Potato and Onion Association
Washington State Potato Commission
Western Agricultural Processors Association
Western Alfalfa Seed Growers Association
Western Association of Agricultural Experiment Station Directors
Western Growers
Western Peanut Growers Association
Western Plant Health Association
Western Society of Weed Science
Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine
Wisconsin Corn Growers Association
Wisconsin Pork Association
Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association
Wisconsin Soybean Association
Wyoming Ag Business Association
Wyoming Bankers Association
Wyoming Wheat Growers Association
CC:
Members of the Senate Committee on Budget
Members of the House Committee on Budget
Members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Members of the House Committee on Agriculture
