National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
Representing the Business Interests of Agriculture

Washington, DC – "Secretary Johanns and the Administration have outlined a broad and comprehensive set of recommendations for the 2007 Farm Bill.

"NCFC and its members will be reviewing and evaluating the recommendations from the standpoint of how they affect farmers and their farmer-owned cooperatives.

"Farmer cooperatives offer the best opportunity for America to realize the farmer-focused ideal of enduring, competitive agricultural policy. The structure of the 2002 Farm Bill should provide the foundation for farmer cooperative enhancements in 2007.

"In fact, the 2002 Farm Bill has worked well for both producers and consumers and it has been very cost effective. In recognition, America's farmer cooperatives, at NCFC recent annual meeting, expressed the view that the 2007 Farm Bill should build on the success of 2002 legislation.

"NCFC will continue to work with the Administration, Congress and allied interests on these and other proposals as debate on the 2007 Farm Bill continues."

NCFC is a national association representing America's farmer cooperatives. There are nearly 3,000 farmer cooperatives across the U.S. whose members include a majority of our nation's more than 2 million farmers, ranchers and growers. These farmer cooperative businesses handle, process, and market agricultural commodities and related products; furnish farm supplies; and provide credit and associated financial services. Earnings from these activities are returned to their members on a patronage basis. Farmer cooperatives also provide jobs for nearly 250,000 Americans, many in rural areas, with a combined payroll of over $8 billion.