National Farmers Union Establishes 2007 Farm Bill Essentials
8 March 2007 NFU’s essentials are as follows:
- A farm income "safety net" using counter-cyclical payments connected to production costs, to support family farmers when commodity prices are low.
- A strategic renewable energy reserve, farmer-owned and linked to the needs of agricultural input-using producers, consumers of livestock feed, and food manufacturers; to protect against seasons with poor crop yields, with commercial-equivalent storage payments, and appropriate release levels that promote fair market prices.
- An agreement making energy independence a national priority, that prioritizes and eases farmer, rancher and community ownership of renewable energy resources and value-added projects, including but not limited to ethanol, biodiesel, and farmer and community-owned wind energy.
- An extensive entitlement regarding competition and up-to-date anti-trust practices and laws, that will make sure anti-trust laws are enforced.
- Permanent agricultural disaster assistance, funded from the general treasury (as are all other natural disasters).
- A title that administers sufficient financing to support Congressional conservation programs, including full funding for the Conservation Security Program and substantially increasing funding for the National Resources Conservation Service technical services, assisting farmers and ranchers in the development and implementation of conservation cost-sharing programs.
- A provision to supply basic food and nutrition requirements for all people, particularly the young, elderly and disabled.
- A safety net for dairy programs, with a supply management system protecting producers from a market collapse. Shifts in producers cost of production should be reflected in dairy price supports.
- A rural development authority to help rural farmers and ranchers commence and establish economic opportunities to assist, sustain, and grow rural America’s economic base.
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