U.S. Reps. Randy Feenstra (R-IA) and Angie Craig (D-MN) are espousing the benefits of legislation they maintain would offer farmers greater crop and livestock insurance protections.
The Crop Insurance for Future Farmers Act would supply new producers, beginning farmers and veterans with the crop insurance protections they need to be productive, profitable and successful.
“In my conversations with Iowa farmers and producers on my Feenstra Agriculture Tour and my discussions with my 60-member Agriculture Advisory Board, I have repeatedly heard that a robust crop insurance program is the top priority for our agriculture community in this year’s Farm Bill,” Feenstra said. “These same producers are extremely concerned – as am I – that our young farmers face major hurdles to succeed in today’s bleak economy. As inflation breaks records, interest rates increase, and economic uncertainty persists, it is exceedingly difficult for the next generation of producers to enter the farming community and make a good living.”
The legislation would align the definition of Beginning Farmer to match most other beginning-farmer programs while extending crop and livestock insurance protections to 10 years for new and beginning farmers. The 10-year increase would apply to all federal crop insurance programs, including livestock policies, officials noted.
“We’ve got to do a better job at helping new farmers build successful operations, and that starts with better crop insurance protections,” Craig said. “I’m proud of the bipartisan work Rep. Feenstra and I are doing to strengthen the farm safety net and ensure we’re preparing the next generation of family farmers.”