Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association Calls for Quick Passage of H.R. 6083

The Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association appreciates the work of Chairman Frank Lucas and Ranking Member Collin Peterson in drafting the House farm bill and in the Agriculture Committee’s approval of H.R. 6083, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2012 on a bipartisan vote of 35-11.

While the House Committee approved farm bill makes significant reductions to programs important to farmers, the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association is pleased that the Chairman and Ranking Member provided workable safety nets that will protect against risks faced by farmers of all commodities in the U.S.

The House Agriculture Committee bill, much like the Senate passed bill, calls for significant budget cuts that will directly affect producers. The elimination of certain programs, including the direct payment program, will undoubtedly impact many farms and their surrounding communities.

H.R. 6083, unlike the Senate passed bill, does provide new risk management tools that will at least give producers the opportunity to hedge against their risks and ensure that yield losses, price declines, and revenue dips do not automatically put farms out of business. The House Committee bill provides certainty for farmers, which will allow them to make long-term investments necessary for maintaining productivity and economic viability.

The Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association asks that the House Committee bill, as written, be maintained through the full House. Any significant changes to the safety net programs included in H.R. 6083 would not only put our support at risk, it could put the livelihood of the nation’s agriculture industry and rural communities at risk.