Senate Farm Bill Committee Draft Reflects Young Farmer Needs
Senate introduces farm bill draft with the Young Farmer Agenda in mind
On Friday afternoon, the Senate Agriculture Committee released its long-awaited draft of the 2018 Farm Bill. In stark contrast to the hyper-partisan approach of their House counterparts, Senate Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) offered a bipartisan alternative, the product of months of negotiations and consensus-building. The result is a bill that, despite a challenging fiscal and political climate, contains significant wins for young farmers and ranchers.
RELEASE: Senate introduces bipartisan farm bill with big wins for young farmers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kate Bittman | View full release and contacts Senate introduces bipartisan farm bill with big wins for young farmers NYFC praises investments in farmer training, farmland protection, and racial equity WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 8, 2018) – The National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) praised the bipartisan farm bill draft released by the […]
RELEASE: House farm bill fails Young farmers call for new approach after defeat of partisan bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 18, 2018) – After today’s stunning defeat of the House farm bill, H.R. 2, in a 198 – 213 vote, the National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) called on Members of Congress to repair the bipartisan farm bill coalition and deliver a farm bill that works for everyone.
“Today’s vote should prove once and for all that Congress cannot pass a bill this important by dividing Republicans and Democrats; dividing what’s right for farmers and what’s right for families; pitting the largest farms against the smallest,” said Lindsey Lusher Shute, co-founder and Executive Director of NYFC. “We need a farm bill that works for, and includes, all of us. One that supports farmers and ranchers struggling through an economic downturn or growing amidst a drought, and one that can sustain farming as a viable livelihood for future generations. NYFC farmers brought Members of Congress to their farms, wrote op-eds, and sent countless letters with one theme: We cannot wait another farm bill to address the structural barriers holding our generation back. The House farm bill presented today didn’t heed that call. The House was right to defeat it, and let’s hope it’s back to the drawing board.”
House farm bill makes key land access investments, but misses big opportunities
NYFC policy staff continues to dig into the House farm bill, H.R. 2. Read our previous posts on the overall analysis of the bill, as well as its potential impact for young farmers in the West.
Across the country, climbing land prices have made it increasingly difficult for farmers to afford land. The challenge of land access for young farmers is so widespread and acute, in fact, that NYFC has an entire team dedicated to it. The farm bill, reauthorized by Congress every five years, can help, or hinder, young farmers’ ability to access land.
RELEASE: House Agriculture Committee concludes farm bill work without making necessary changes for young farmers
Partisan markup yields heated debate, few amendments; NYFC calls on U.S. House to make improvements as farm bill goes to the floor
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 18, 2018) – The House Agriculture Committee completed its markup of the House farm bill today and reported the bill to the full U.S. House. Despite a robust debate, the Committee made few changes to the bill, no moves to restore mandatory funding for programs critical to young farmers, and left key concerns over conservation, nutrition, and loan programs unaddressed. As the bill moves toward the House floor, the National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) called on all Representatives to make significant changes.
With West in Drought, House Farm Bill Cuts Conservation, Funds Land Access
Wedged in between White House scandals and Beychella, the House Agriculture Committee released their draft of the 2018 Farm Bill.
As NYFC outlined in our initial analysis of the bill, there is some good news for young farmers. Programs that support the next generation, like the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP), are reauthorized, and funding for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), a critical tool for protecting farmland for future generations, is restored to $500 million.
RELEASE: National Young Farmers Coalition calls on Congress to authorize mental health assistance for farmers
Coalition of 36 farm and rural organizations send letter advocating for support in upcoming farm bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 9, 2018) – The National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) joined 35 farm, rural, and health organizations in a letter calling on Congress to expand mental health and stress assistance resources for farmers by reauthorizing the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) in the upcoming farm bill.
RELEASE: National Young Farmers Coalition supports bipartisan bill to address farmer mental health
Urges Congress to fund stress assistance in the upcoming farm bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 14, 2018) – The National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) applauds the introduction of a bipartisan bill (H.R. 5259) that would provide critical resources for farmers experiencing emotional, physical, and financial distress. The STRESS Act, led by U.S. Reps. Tom Emmer (R-MN) and Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ), would establish the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) to coordinate stress assistance programs for farmers and ranchers, including crisis hotlines, educational and outreach services, and training for farmer advocates. The program was authorized by Congress in 2008 but has never received funding.
Ask your Representative to Support the Young Farmer Agenda
By enacting the Young Farmer Agenda, Congress can inspire and support an entire generation of young producers, protect the resources they steward, strengthen the communities they feed, and revitalize the rural economies they underpin. Will you call your Member of Congress today to ask them to support the Young Farmer Agenda?
RELEASE: National Young Farmers Coalition alarmed by Trump’s proposed cuts for agriculture
Urges Congress to recognize irreparable economic loss if retiring farmers have no replacements
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 12, 2018) – The National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) expressed its frustration with President Trump’s budget outline for Fiscal Year 2019, released this morning, which proposes to slash funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture by 16 percent.