D Daryl Cates, President of the American Soybean Association and Illinois farmer, testified before the House Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit on April 26. He shared the perspectives of soybean producers on the upcoming Farm Bill and addressed the need to mitigate farmers' risks in the field and beyond.
Cates emphasized the importance of protecting crop insurance, which he described as the most effective and important component of the farm safety net for soybean farmers. Crop insurance helps farmers manage risk and secure operating credit from their lenders. He requested that the crop insurance program remains unscathed by amendments.
Cates also requested improvements to the Title I farm safety net to better align it with the needs of American farmers. He highlighted the need for a predictable, effective farm safety net in the 2023 Farm Bill.
Although Georgia Congressman Austin Scott, the ranking chairman of the subcommittee, expressed his understanding of the need to protect crop insurance and improve the Title I safety net, he acknowledged that the limited amount of money for the Farm Bill makes it challenging to implement all requested improvements.
The Illinois Soybean Association has listed their priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill, including conservation funding and a fair farm safety net. The ISA represents over 43,000 soybean farmers in Illinois through their checkoff and membership programs, which fund market development, soybean production, and government relations efforts, and advocate for positive and impactful legislation for farmers at local, state, and national levels.
To view the complete list if Illinois Soybean Association priorities, visit: https://www.ilsoy.org/focus-areas/government-relations/farmbill2023/
Photo Credit: GettyImages-jimfeng
Categories: Illinois, Business