WASHINGTON (Oct. 19, 2011) – National Farmers Union joined a coalition of organizations in signing a letter to U.S. Senators urging them to oppose amendments to the Fiscal Year 2012 Agriculture Appropriations Bill that would affect mandatory funding for U.S. farm policies.
“This is the end of the fourth year of the current five-year farm bill upon which U.S. farmers and ranchers and their lenders have already made financial decisions,” the coalition wrote. “Amendments to an appropriations bill that would alter the terms of this contract with our producers occur at the wrong time and in the wrong venue.”
The amendments come on the heels of a letter by leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate Agriculture Committees to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction outlining a plan to reduce the deficit.
“The Senate should respect the ongoing work of this bipartisan, bicameral effort,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “Leadership of both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees continue to work very hard to find areas to help reduce the federal deficit while maintaining sound policy for America’s family farmers and ranchers. These additional cuts could have very damaging effects on U.S. agriculture and should be opposed by members of the Senate.”
