Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster, Ron Hays, is visiting with the Vice President of the National Association of Wheat Growers, Keeff Felty, about the farm bill from the perspective of wheat producers.
“We have been working on our policy for at least the last 18 months, and we really haven’t deviated from that a lot,” Felty said. “We know what our core needs and asks are for the farm bill.”
The biggest priority of NAWG, Felty said, is protecting crop insurance. Felty said wheat producers would also like to see a reference price increase in the Title I of programs of ARC and PLC.
“We would like to see improvements in crop insurance as well,” Felty said.
Although things are beyond the control of producers, Felty said there is still optimism that a farm bill will be produced in a timely manner.
“It does appear that we are going to have an extension,” Felty said. “That is kind of breaking news. I don’t know what all of the particulars are.”
Felty said he understands that both sides of those involved in the production of the farm bill would like to see the bill produced in a timely manner during that extension period.
“It is a process, and we go through this every time,” Felty said.
Regarding Title I expiring on September 30, Felty said there will not be any noticeable impacts until the end of the year.
