A coalition of more than 600 agricultural banking and insurance organizations — including ABA — and other ag industry constituents signed onto a letter to members of the Senate urging them to oppose any harmful amendments in the 2018 Farm Bill that would increase the cost of, reduce or limit participation in, or harm private sector delivery of crop insurance. With the House’s passage yesterday of its version of the Farm Bill, the Senate must now pass its version before the two bills can be reconciled.
The groups underscored the importance of crop insurance to America’s farmers and ranchers, noting that without it, many could not qualify for the operating loans they require. In addition, crop insurance currently provides a rapid response solution to natural disasters, provides for environmental benefits, protects jobs both on and off the farm and is available to all types and sizes of producers nationwide.
“Crop insurance is food and fiber security insurance, and food and fiber security is national security,” the groups said. “Given the importance of crop insurance, [we] urge you to support America’s farmers, ranchers, rural economies and national security by opposing amendments that would harm crop insurance.”
