A meeting concerning the laws and regulations affecting row crop producers took place in Morrilton, Ark., on January 30. The focus of the meeting was the current USDA farm bill, the Federal Crop Insurance, Environmental Regulation, and other areas that are pertinent information concerning agriculture and those in the farming industry.
Spokesman, Harrison Pittman, Director of the National Agricultural Law Center in Fayetteville, Ark., opened the meeting with the following statement. “Agriculture is the most heavily regulated industry in the United States, impacted by a variety of local, state, federal and international laws and regulations.” The purpose of the meeting was to address many of the most important current issues and to highlight the resources of the National Agricultural Law Center as a means of obtaining objective agricultural law research and information.
The 2013 farm bill was extended from the 2008 farm bill since no common ground could be met in Washington D.C. The farm bill will be looked at again this month and possible changes will be coming. Three main points were discussed that are most important and with the possibility to become changes for farmers, commodities, farm crop insurance and direct payments. “Commodities are really going through a transition, moving more and more away from traditional farming and insurance,” Harrison stated.
“Farmers in the South would particularly be affected by the changes since Federal Crop Insurance hasn’t been an issue for a lot of producers, particularly in the South. This will be life changing,” said Harrison. It’s possible that farm crop insurance will be costly and will be regulated by the government. All the policies will need to be read and reread and claims won’t necessarily get paid. It all hinges on what the federal government agrees upon.
The Direct Payment Program will more than likely change as well. Though it will be continued, it didn’t include many disaster programs. Again, the insurance will be the issue. This is a new aspect, and direct payment will be only once or twice a year for ag risk coverage.
Unfortunately, 37 programs were left out of the farm bill from 2008, though not yet released as to which programs, according to Harrison. The Senate is to make proposals for disaster assistance.
What’s next? Well that is a tough question but in late February there will be a debate and decision over sequestration. Then in March, another debate and decision about the remainder of 2013, and in April and May a debate will ensue over the 2014 budget and hopefully some decisions will be made.
