By Scout Nelson
As the deadline for reauthorizing the Farm Bill nears, North Dakota farmers are pressing Congress to take action. A group of more than two dozen North Dakota Farmers Union members recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with lawmakers and discuss the bill’s importance.
Bob Kuylen, a farmer from western North Dakota, explained the urgency, noting the challenges producers face. "Inputs are awfully high and we're down there in prices quite a ways," Kuylen said, referring to the rising costs of farming combined with lower returns from their crops.
The Farm Bill, last updated in 2018, must be renewed by the end of the month, or key programs will expire. Farmers, especially those running small-to-mid-sized operations, fear the impact of not having a strong safety net if the bill is delayed. With fall elections and federal budget issues adding complexity, farmers worry that negotiations may drag on.
Beyond supporting farmers, the Farm Bill plays a significant role in funding programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). "Eighty-two percent of the Farm Bill is nutrition," Kuylen added. "Farmers get a very small part of the Farm Bill. You know, it covers things like conservation programs."
The farmers emphasized that the bill touches many parts of the food system, affecting everyone, from producers to consumers. With rising machinery costs and increasing corporate consolidation in agriculture, farmers are eager for a renewed policy that addresses their concerns.
Categories: North Dakota, General, Government & Policy