Farm bill passage vital for farmers says MCGA President

By Scout Nelson

Passage of the 2024 Farm Bill, which aims to strengthen the farm safety net, is critical for farm families facing challenging economic and agronomic conditions.

This was the key message delivered by Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) President Dana Allen-Tully to the U.S. House Agriculture Committee during a hearing on financial conditions in farm country.

President Allen-Tully, who runs a crop and dairy farm in Eyota, outlined the various challenges farmers are encountering this year.

Natural disasters, high production costs, declining crop prices, rising interest rates, and tightening credit are all hampering farmers' operations. She emphasized that improving crop insurance and the Farm Bill’s commodity title would significantly aid farm families.

Allen-Tully praised provisions in the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, passed by the House Ag Committee in May. Notably, she highlighted the proposed increase of the corn reference price under the Price Loss Coverage and Agricultural Risk Coverage programs and the doubling of funding for the Market Access and Foreign Market Development programs.

“The Commodity Title and crop insurance provisions in the House Farm Bill are excellent and would go a long way in helping all farm families, regions, and commodities,” she said.

During the hearing, Allen-Tully also answered questions from committee members, offering deeper insights into the financial challenges facing corn farmers. She reiterated the value of farms, not only for the families who operate them but also for rural communities nationwide.

She emphasized that passing a Farm Bill with a strengthened safety net could bring certainty to farmers facing significant economic challenges.

In addition to advocating for the Farm Bill, Allen-Tully addressed other topics important to farm families, such as the U.S. trade deficit and promoting environmentally friendly biofuels.

She highlighted how American farm and ranch families play a crucial role in addressing global hunger, which could worsen as the world's population grows. “We need good policies to help us,” she said. “We need Washington to make the right decision to help producers defeat hunger—both at home and abroad.”

Her testimony underscored the urgent need for supportive legislation to ensure the stability and sustainability of American agriculture, providing a lifeline to farmers and their communities during these challenging times.