Rice Producers: Farm Bill Must Continue to Provide a Strong Safety Net

The following is from the USA Rice Producers Association:

The farm bill proposal today by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Mike Johanns appears to fall considerably short of maintaining the viable safety net for farmers that is now in place, USA Rice Producers’ Group Chairman Paul Combs said today. That safety net, as provided in the current farm law — the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 — works effectively for consumers and taxpayers, as well as farmers, Combs said. It has provided fiscally responsible policy, with savings in farm commodity programs projected at $25 billion over the six-year life of the law.

“The secretary’s proposal establishes further restrictions on eligibility for participation in commodity programs that would be entirely unworkable for U.S. rice producers,” Combs said.

“We have consistently expressed our support for maintaining current farm policy comprised of the three-pronged safety net of marketing loan, direct payment and countercyclical payment programs,” Combs said. “While some of today’s proposal may seem consistent with that position, other parts of the proposal cause great concern — such as the change to ultimately lower the loan rates for some commodities and the modification of the countercyclical program — and will weaken the safety net for rice.”

“We look forward to working with congressional agriculture committees as they work to develop a viable farm policy,” Combs said.