FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 19, 2018

Contact: Andrew Jerome, 202-314-3106
[email protected]

WASHINGTON – In a letter sent to President Donald Trump yesterday, twenty members of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee urged the administration to support long-term solutions in the Farm Bill that would ensure an adequate farm safety net for family farmers and ranchers who are enduring a depressed farm economy and threats of retaliatory tariffs on farm products.

National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson lauded the letter, noting it mirrors Farmers Union’s call for the administration to work with Congress to develop a Farm Bill that protects family farmers from harm as a result of retaliatory tariffs. Johnson issued the following statement in support of the letter:

“While Farmers Union supports the President’s trade goals to reduce our massive trade imbalance and restore our sovereignty, we’ve grown increasingly concerned that his tactless tactics could put family farmers and ranchers in the crosshairs of a potential trade war. We’ve been urging the administration to work with Congress to develop a Farm Bill that provides an adequate safety net for farmers struggling with low commodity prices.

“NFU believes the most effective long-term solution lies in increasing reference prices for the Price Loss Coverage program in the Farm Bill. We’re appreciative of Ranking Member Peterson’s leadership on this issue and support the recommendations made in this letter.

“Farmers Union will continue to support the President and his administration in a transition to a fair trade framework, and we will continue to push for appropriate levels of support that recognize the precarious position farmers would find themselves in in the event of an all out trade war.”

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To download an audio file of Roger Johnson’s quote, visit our website at nfu.org/audio.

About NFU
National Farmers Union has been working since 1902 to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through advocating grassroots-driven policy positions adopted by its membership.

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