Special Report

Illinois Farm Bureau puts forth options amendment

The majority of American Farm Bureau delegates support the amendment put forth in their policy to keep options open for a five-year farm bill.

That amendment was presented by the Illinois Farm Bureau at the AFBF annual meeting in Nashville. Mark Gebhards, the executive director of governmental affairs and commodities for the Illinois Farm Bureau, says it was one sentence.

“If a catastrophic risk program is not achievable we support producers being allowed a choice of program options,” Gehards tells Brownfield Ag News.

While southern state delegates wanted target prices, or, “reference price programs” in the policy book… the Illinois amendment now replaces that.  He says, “That particular individual reference was taken out and, again, replaced with that amendment that just says we’ll look at ALL program options. So, it really allows you a lot of flexibility as you move forward in the debate.”

Gebhards tells Brownfield he hates to say that the budget is the issue in the next full farm bill but he says “the budget IS the issue”….

“This allows you the flexibility to look at all those options and say, ‘Okay, what fits the best within the budget parameters that we’re going to have to deal with, with the House and the Senate,” Gebhard adds.

Agriculture has and is willing, Gebhards says, to make its fair share of reductions. The Farm Bureau still supports the $26 Billion in cuts in the Senate Farm Bill version as opposed to the House AG committee proposal that seeks another $10 Billion more in ag cuts.

AUDIO: Mark Gebhards interviewed by Brownfield’s Tom Steever (3:00 mp3)