Lawmakers say the bill would reauthorize crop insurance and conservation programs, provide funds for trade programs, and increase bio-energy production and organic farming research. It would also legalize the cultivation of industrial hemp. Lastly, it is supposed to create a larger safety net for struggling dairy farmers.
KY3 and KSPR News talked with some Southwest Missouri dairy farmers at one of the final cattle sales of the year about whether this farm bill will help them or not.
«I’ve been milking cows since ’73 and working with cattle all my life, and I’m gonna say it’s probably the worst year I’ve seen in Southwest Missourah for milk prices and cattle,» said Freddie Martin, partial Owner of Martin Prairie Farms, one of the largest dairy farms in the region.
And it doesn’t matter if you’re just selling the milk or the whole cow, everyone feels the sting. «They don’t get anything for their cattle now,» said Doug Thomas, Manager of the dairy sale. «An open heifer, that was worth $1000 is worth, ya know, $400 now.»
Neither men are sure if the farm bill will help any of the smaller farmers in the Ozarks. «The small dairy men in Southwest Missourah, I don’t think it will help any at all,» said Doug Thomas. «It’s just like any enterprise today, most of the operations are getting bigger and the smaller ones have a harder time staying in business,» began Freddie Martin. «I know it looks like it’s going to help, but I don’t see it helping much for the small dairy.» Freddie Martin continued and said he still thought the farm bill was «a plus.»
Like the rest of their colleagues, he’ll see if the new farm bill gets signed. Even after that, many details won’t be known until after the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) does a review of the legislation.
For now, Martin just had one final note. «Everybody, drink milk,» he said with a smile.
President Trump is expected to sign this farm bill into law as soon as Thursday.
Some thing’s that did not make it into the final text of the bill, include tighter work requirements for food stamp recipients and relaxed restrictions on pesticide use, according to NBC News.