OKFB’s John Collison, vice president of public policy and media affairs, released the following statement regarding a vote on crop insurance later today.
“Recently, Congressman Paul Ryan put forth a resolution supporting the linkage of Means Testing to Crop Insurance. Earlier this year, the House rejected a similar farm bill amendment from Congressman Ron Kind. Kind’s amendment would have imposed a means test and cut crop insurance delivery.
The 2013 Farm Bill includes provisions to strengthen, improve and expand crop insurance. Congressman Ryan’s resolution would create a barrier to this goal. Means testing in the crop insurance program impacts all farmers who purchase crop insurance, not just those above the arbitrary gross income levels discussed in the resolution. Reducing the participation of an entire class of producers results in an alteration of risk and potential rate changes.
As many Oklahoma farmers know, agriculture is only beginning to emerge from one of the worst droughts in our nation’s history. Due to the effective design and development of crop insurance, there were no calls for 100% taxpayer-financed ad hoc crop loss disaster assistance. Oklahoma Farm Bureau opposes the above mentioned resolution.
Thank you for your assistance in this matter.”
Sincerely,
John Collison
Vice President of Public Policy
