Farmers Union President Visits North Dakota Farmers

Congress is getting ready to finish work on a new Farm Bill It has passed the U-S House and is on its way to the Senate when congress returns in September Farmers Union President Tom Buis Buy-is has been a major lobbyist in Washington to get a farm bill passed He visited with North Dakota farmers this morning about the legislation Buis says his highest priorities for the farm bill are getting profitable prices for producers reforming crop insurance and having mandatory country of origin labeling Another big issue for North Dakota farmers is disaster aid The farm bill as it is now includes permanent disaster assistance This would mean farmers needing disaster aid wouldn t have to ask for it when they need it Tom Buis Pres Farmers Union We ve had 28 disaster aid programs in the last ten years WE know that weather related disaster losses are going to occur It s better to plan for them and have a permanent program in place to give producers certainty that in their time of need they re going to get help Buis says it took three years to get the last disaster aid passed in the spring Farmers and Ranchers won t get payments until September or October