John Boehner

Farm Bill Update: Boehner’s Issues with Dairy Program One Hurdle

January 21, 2014 By Ron Sylvester 1 Comment

According to our advocates at the National Farmers Union, Ohio’s own House Speaker John Boehner continues to be a fly in the ointment of ongoing Farm Bill conference committee negotiations.

Boehner, who as a member of the House served on the Ag Committee for several years, has described the U.S. Dairy Program as “Soviet-style,” which doesn’t leave a lot of room for compromise. His latest issue according to NFU and media sources revolves around proposed dairy price stabilization measures including dictating how much milk is produced. Supporters of greater price stabilization measures in the dairy industry say supply management is needed to forestall overproduction and price swings to the low end that would endanger the financial viability of dairy farmers. Boehner says that prices for all manner of dairy products are too high due to the Dairy Program and free market reforms are in order.

While Boehner and others propose a “burn the village to save it” mentality on dairy farming, what’s missing from their “reforms” is the very point of the Farm Bill – how do we afford some level of protection to farmers – especially independent producers – from price extremes in the market? There is U.S. commodity supply policy on other agricultural products, what makes dairy different?

NFU also reports that there could still be at least one public conference committee hearing on the Farm Bill featuring current hot button topics such as COOL. It remains important for independent, family farmers and consumers to let their members of Congress and senators know that there is strong support among their constituents for knowing the origin of their food.

While we reported in the last Ohio Country Messenger that the Farm Bill appeared to be heading toward compromise and completion, perhaps by mid-January, here we are with the Congress that can’t get things done. While most members are at home this week, leadership is expected to continue negotiations and there is a chance for a final conference report vote – and an end to the dysfunction – during the last week in January.

Several Hundred Ag and Associated Orgs Ask Boehner for Another Try on Farm Bill

July 8, 2013 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

The National Farmers Union and 531 other agriculture, rural development, conservation, financial services, energy and forestry groups asked U.S. House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) over the Fourth of July week to bring the Farm Bill to the floor for another try and to keep the nutrition title a part of the bill.

“Farm bills represent a delicate balance between America’s farm, nutrition, conservation, and other priorities, and accordingly require strong bipartisan support. It is vital for the House to try once again to bring together a broad coalition of lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to provide certainty for farmers, rural America, the environment and our economy in general and pass a five -year farm bill uponreturning in July. We believe that splitting the nutrition title from the rest of the bill could result in neither farm nor nutrition programs passing, and urge you to move a unified farm bill forward,” read a letter to the speaker signed by the 532 organizations.

The Ohio Farmers Union was a signatory, as was NFU and the Ohio and American Farm Burea Federations.

You may read the entire letter and view the list of signers here.

Johnson likes what he’s hearing from House leadership on Farm Bill

June 14, 2013 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

from NFU

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson issued the following statement upon reports that Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives John Boehner, R-Ohio, will support the 2013 Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act:

“It is promising to hear that House leadership is embracing the 2013 Farm Bill and its importance to all Americans. I also applaud Reps. Lucas and Peterson for their bipartisan leadership in getting the bill to the floor. In order to provide certainty for U.S. family farmers and ranchers, it is critical that the farm bill continues making progress toward conference and final passage prior to the Sept. 30, deadline.

“FARRM makes significant, much-needed reforms to agriculture programs, including significant deficit reduction. The farm bill also prevents the necessity for emergency ad hoc disaster programs, which almost always represents deficit spending.

“NFU also supports the bill’s elimination of direct payments. American farmers need a safety net in times of natural disaster and long-term price collapse, not when conditions are more favorable. We will continue to work with members of Congress through the passage in the House and conference process to ensure that we end up with a comprehensive, five-year bill that is the best that it can be.”

NFU’s Johnson: Congress ‘packing up’ without finishing Farm Bill a travesty

September 20, 2012 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

NFU President Roger Johnson issued a statement following Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives John Boehner’s announcement that action on the farm bill would take place following the Nov. 6 general election.

“NFU is deeply disappointed with Speaker Boehner’s comments this morning. It is crystal clear that Republican leadership is what is holding the farm bill hostage. While the announcement comes as no surprise, punting the farm bill into the lame duck session is a transparent political maneuver that leaves rural America holding its collective breath about its livelihood and future.

“The lame duck session will be dealing with many very significant tax and funding issues which have also been left undone by this Congress. We worry about whether the farm bill might become a pawn in that process.

“We are confident that there are enough votes to pass the farm bill now. We strongly urge the Speaker to reconsider the recess and take up the bill and deal with it now. Congress should not leave town early while leaving U.S. farmers and ranchers facing enormous uncertainty.

“On the heels of one of the most devastating disasters our country has seen in many years, the agricultural community needs certainty here and now, not in six weeks time. Allowing Congress to pack up and leave town once again without taking up a farm bill is an irresponsible travesty.”

What can you be doing about the Farm Bill?

August 18, 2012 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

The U.S. Senate has done its job. The House of Representatives Ag Committee has done its job. Now it’s time for Speaker John Boehner and the rest of the House majority leadership to do theirs: Bring the 2012 Farm Bill to the House floor for action.

There’s a job for you to do as well. Contact your member of Congress and tell him or her that it’s never been more important for U.S. farm policy to move forward in a bipartisan manner. U.S. farmers and ranchers are battling the worst drought since WWII, the national economic recovery is weak and farmers need certainty as much as multi-national corporations and the big banks on Wall Street. Don’t let them forget the farmers. Below you will find some information from the National Farmers Union. Read it and think about how the lack of a Farm Bill passed by September 30 would affect your own family farm. Tell your member of Congress about that and ask them to support efforts to move the bipartisan bill passed by the House Ag Committee to the floor.

NATIONAL FARMERS UNION

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