ST. LOUIS, May 8, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The National Corn Growers Association today praised the new farm bill conference agreement completed by congressional agriculture leaders as carefully balanced legislation with some very positive reforms -- especially when it comes to providing an innovative and market-based revenue counter cyclical support program for U.S. farmers.
"After three years of hard work on the part of our growers and our staff, we're happy to see that the conference committee preserved the new Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) program," said NCGA President Ron Litterer. "We urge Congress to avoid delays and move forward for passage, and we urge President Bush to take a fresh look at the reforms in this legislation that work for the farmer and the American consumer alike."
The optional ACRE program addresses the increasing levels of risk farmers are facing today and in the future with a safety net that offers more reliable protection against crop losses and against increasingly volatile commodity markets. In exchange for a 20 percent reduction in direct payments and a 30 percent reduction in loan rates, producers will be able to enroll in this state level revenue counter-cyclical program. Modeled after legislation introduced by Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) last summer, ACRE will provide participating farmers beginning in 2009 a state revenue guarantee on acres planted equal to 90 percent of the product of a state average yield factor times the national season average price for the previous two years for the commodity.
Litterer thanked Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and all the members of the conference committee for the inclusion of ACRE in the conference agreement, as well as Sens. Durbin and Brown for their support.
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is a national organization founded in 1957 and represents approximately 33,000 dues-paying corn growers and the interests of more than 300,000 farmers who contribute through corn checkoff programs in their states. NCGA and its 48 affiliated state associations and checkoff organizations work together to help protect and advance the corn producer's interests.