House Farm Bill Needs More Compromise as Conversations Continue

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Today, upon hearing that the House Agriculture Committee passed a farm bill late yesterday, IL Corn Growers Association (ICGA) President Dave Rylander, a farmer from Victoria, IL, issued the following statement:

“Illinois corn farmers need a farm bill that will provide a safety net to keep farms and farm families in business. While we are grateful for the time and consideration that our elected officials and staff invested in the proposal that passed the House Ag Committee late yesterday, ICGA has major concerns.

“Primarily, the bill is not strongly bipartisan; bipartisanship and compromise are what Illinois farmers need to pass the best possible farm bill. We also need the best possible policy that propels agriculture forward and does not disparage or divide us based on regional or state lines.

“This bill has clear pros and cons. We are happy about additional funding for trade promotion programs, and we support Illinois hog farmers in their pursuit of a solution to California’s Proposition 12, both of which are included in this bill. But we hope for more conversation and compromise in future versions of the bill, and we look forward to working with House and Senate members on what will become the final farm bill that truly works for all of U.S. agriculture.”

Please review IL Corn Growers Association and Illinois Soybean Association’s comments on the House Ag Committee farm bill here.