| NCFC Letter Supporting HR 2419, the 2007 Farm Bill |
|
|
|
July 25, 2007
The Honorable Collin Peterson The Honorable Bob Goodlatte Dear Chairman Peterson and Ranking Member Goodlatte:
NCFC is the national association representing America’s farmer cooperatives. There are approximately 3,000 farmer cooperatives across the U.S. whose member owners include a majority of our nation’s farmers and ranchers. They include marketing, supply, credit and bargaining cooperatives, all of which operate for the mutual benefit of their farmer members. These farmer-owned businesses handle, process and market virtually every type of commodity grown or produced in the U.S.; manufacture, sell and distribute a variety of farm inputs, including renewable energy; and provide credit and other financial services, including export financing. HR 2419 includes a number of provisions important to farmer cooperatives and their members. It maintains a needed safety net for producers, provides for increased funding for specialty crops and related programs, strengthens export promotion, and contains a number of other important provisions relating to conservation, food and nutrition, energy, rural development, credit, and research, as well as disaster assistance. The bill also recognizes the important role farmer cooperatives play on behalf of their members and in helping achieve certain program objectives. With regard to conservation, for example, the bill includes a new Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative and related provisions involving farmer cooperatives. It also includes important provisions relating to the cooperative Farm Credit System to help make sure the credit needs of farmers and their cooperatives, including new generation cooperatives, and rural America, continue to be met – especially with regard to renewable energy. For all these reasons, we strongly urge House passage of HR 2419, the “Farm, Nutrition and Bioenergy Act of 2007,” and opposition to any amendments that would weaken or eliminate the important provisions as outlined that are contained in this important bipartisan legislation. Again, we commend you for your leadership and look forward to continuing to work with you in support of this important legislation and provisions important to farmer cooperatives and their members.
Sincerely, |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|