CHUCK CONNER, PRESIDENT & CEO NATIONAL COUNCIL OF FARMER COOPERATIVES

The Path for Farm Safety

Nets and Farm Bills

DECEMBER 2016

The Path Forward on US Farm

Policy Will Be Guided by Where

We Have Been…

• The results of the election

• The long journey of the 2014 Farm Bill

• The state of commodity prices/ag economy

• How the new safety net programs have been

working (or not)

232 306

2016 Electoral College map

Hillary Clinton (D)

Running Mate: Tim Kaine

Popular Vote: 48.1%

States Carried: 20 + DC

Donald Trump (R)

Running Mate: Mike Pence

Popular Vote: 46.5%

States Carried: 30

■ Hillary Clinton ■ Donald Trump

OH

18 WV

5 VA

13

PA

20

NY

29

ME*

4

NC

15

SC

9 GA

16

TN 11

KY 8

IN

11

MI

16

WI

10

MN

10

IL

20

LA 8

TX

38

OK

7

ID

4

NV

6

OR

7

WA

12

CA

55

AZ

11 NM

5

CO

9

WY

3

MT

3

ND

3

SD

3

IA

6

UT

6

FL

29

AR

6

MO

10

MS 6

AL

9

NE

5

KS

6

AK

3 MD 10

MA 11

RI 4

CT 7

DC 3

DE 3

NJ 14

HI

4

NH* 4

VT 3

Reported as of November 28th

*Clinton won Maine’s statewide vote, but Trump received an electoral vote for winning the 2nd district

The Election Results Show That Rural

America Still Has Influence at the National

Level

House Races Also Illustrate The Trend

■ Democratic gain ■ Democratic hold ■ Republican hold ■ Republican gain ■ Not yet called

House seats gained and held, 2016 House elections

Source: National Journal research, 2016.

Democrats: 193

Republicans: 238

Independents: 0

Not yet called: 4

5

84.6%

As a result of the election, the

Senate Ag Committee will likely

spend time originally planned

for farm bill on confirmation

process.

Enacting the Agricultural Act of

2014: A Timeline 2010

4/20/10 – First of 14 DC 2012 Farm Bill Formulation

Hearings

4/21/10 – First of 13 Farm Bill Field Hearings

2012

4/26/12 – Senate Ag Cmte Passes Farm Bill

6/21/12 – Senate Passes Farm Bill

7/12/12 – House Ag Cmte Passes Farm Bill

12/31/12 – Farm Bill Extended (9 mo.) During

Fiscal Cliff Deal

2013

5/14/13 – Senate Ag Cmte Passes Farm Bill

5/15/13 – House Ag Cmte Passes Farm Bill

6/10/13 – Senate Passes Farm Bill

6/20/13 – Farm Bill Fails on House Floor

7/11/13 – House Passes “Farm Only” Farm Bill

8/1/13 – Senate Appoints Conferees

9/19/13 – House Passes Nutrition Only Farm Bill

10/12/13 – House Appoints Conferees

2014

1/29/14 – House Passes Farm Bill Conference Report

2/4/14 – Senate Passes Farm Bill Conference Report

2/7/14 – President signs Farm Bill into Law

“A late farm bill is almost as

bad as no farm bill at all.”

A simple extension may not be

possible. There’s a need to address:

• Dairy

• Cotton

• Issues of disparity within ARC

Where are the battle lines in U.S.

farm policy?

• Payment limits

• Crop insurance

• Farm programs versus SNAP

• Regulations

The next Farm Bill process

presents an opportunity to

strengthen incentive based

conservation programs to

address today’s challenges.

“[W]e expect that our drinking water will be as safe as our food. Despite the progress that’s been made, farm pollution remains a leading threat to our drinking water…What’s more, it’s time to face facts: voluntary incentives alone cannot meet the environmental challenges posed by farm pollution.”

-Scott Faber, Environmental Working Group, November 30, 2016

Thank you.