NCC: No adverse changes, budget reductions to farm law

The National Cotton Council of America (NCC) is calling for no budget reductions or “adverse” policy changes while the new farm bill is being implemented.

The NCC said farm producers are making the critical decisions for the farm law's programs, and reducing funding would be “highly disruptive and punitive,” especially with program elections and sign-up deadlines still approaching.

Ronnie Lee, a cotton producer in Bronwood, Georgia, who also serves on the NCC Board of Directors, testified earlier this year before the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Committee. He spoke on behalf of the Southern Peanut Farmers Federation.

"With cotton's safety net now comprised solely by the marketing loan program and crop insurance, we are especially concerned by the recent actions and statements focused on eliminating key crop insurance tools,” Lee said. “Farm policy generally, and cotton policy specifically, were substantially reformed, funding reduced, and market orientation increased in the 2014 farm bill, so now is not the time for further changes that will only undermine the foundation of risk management for production agriculture."

Imposing the payment limit on marketing loans has been one of the most challenging issues because the U.S. Department of Agriculture has had trouble tracking the total benefits that have accrued to the limit.