Today, Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) issued a statement calling on House and Senate Farm Bill Conferees to quickly come to a compromise and pass the Farm Bill, as several programs will lose funding this weekend:
"This coming Sunday, 39 important farm bill programs will lose funding and expire. These programs include trade promotion programs, outreach for socially disadvantage and veteran producers, funding programs for beginning farmers and ranchers, and certain conservation programs, among others. The consequences are real for these programs, and the sooner we reach an agreement the sooner some of the uncertainty is taken off producer's plates.
While these programs amount to a small fraction of total farm bill spending, they are of high importance to the programs' beneficiaries, including many in Nebraska. These programs impact local Farmer's Markets in our district, crucial research for the future, and every ag producer in the state--we must do better.
These are critical times for our farmers and ranchers, and they need the certainty that comes with a five-year Farm Bill. I urge House and Senate Farm Bill Conferees to quickly reach a compromise. Our ag community deserves no less."