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AFBF urges Congress to grant CCC authority, outlines priorities

American Farm Bureau is urging Congress to ensure that the Commodity Credit Corporation has the authority and funding to help farmers and ranchers facing uncertainty because of the coronavirus pandemic.

President Zippy Duvall says farmers and ranchers won’t let Americans down during this crisis and AFBF is asking Congress to do the same for farmers and ranchers. He says thousands of producers will need help with cash flow because of the decline in commodity prices and other challenges.

Duvall says Congress must have farmers’ backs by expanding USDA’s borrowing authority under the CCC. This would allow more direct payments including another potential round of Market Facilitation Program payments.

AFBF has released a list of policy recommendations including allowing H-2A workers to be available to the ag sector, ensuring that trade relations are maintained, prioritizing rural broadband, expanding use of telehealth, and more.