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As farmers wait through winter and prepare for the next planting season, they also have their eyes on Washington for two major reasons. First, the new federal Farm Bill is still being worked on, the first one since 2018. The Farm Bill is a multiyear law that governs a variety of agricultural and food programs, and Tom Fricke from the Vermilion County Farm Bureau says everyone’s paying close attention.
AUDIO: We want to make sure that the opportunity to manage our risks through a viable crop insurance program remains part of that Farm Bill, so that’s some of the things that the Farm Bureau is watching.
Also being watched in Washington is something that was talked about during the Vermilion County Farm Bureau’s annual dinner in late November: the Securities and Exchange Commission’s proposal that would require farmers to provide complete documentation of carbon emissions on their land. This is seen as very unrealistic among the farming community due to an obvious lack of capability and resources to do it. Fricke says they’re hoping it can be discouraged.
AUDIO: The SEC has put down some rules that would have an impact on agriculture that they really don’t have direct control over; and so it shouldn’t be affecting agriculture. So that is something we’ll be watching as well.
Going into last year’s planting season, there was extreme worry about input costs, especially the cost of fertilizer. Fricke says; sure, there’s concern this year as well. But what was learned in 2022 certainly helps.
AUDIO: Guys know that they were able to whether the storm last year, although it did have an impact on the bottom line. Like with most things, the first time it happens it’s kind of a shock to the system. But now guys have figured out a way to deal with that extra increase.
Fricke says the biggest assist for farmers, once again, will be if commodity prices can stay strong.
