WASHINGTON — National Farmers Union (NFU) released the following statement from President Rob Larew in response to USDA’s announcement of an $8 billion Harvest Fuel Relief program:
“This is the second round of emergency aid this year to address losses that were largely foreseeable. While this assistance will be helpful for some farmers as they manage a costly harvest, trade disruptions and rising fuel costs tied to conflict abroad have put family farmers in a difficult position, and one-time payments can’t provide the stability they need to plan for the future.
“We also have questions about how this program will serve specialty crop growers, who have been asked to submit their own cost data with no clarity yet on whether or how they’ll be covered.
“The need for repeated emergency aid is a clear sign that the farm safety net is failing family farmers. We need to provide long-term certainty and investment in diversifying our fuel sources with renewable options, not a cycle of ad hoc relief. That’s why Congress must commit to passing a strong farm bill that gives family farmers the stable footing they need.”
