There’s much about the 2018 Farm Bill that still isn’t understood and it will take years to fully understand the implications of the sweeping omnibus bill. Knox County Farm Bureau Director Hailey Weyrich says that for the moment local ag producers are just applauding what appears to be the imminent signing of the bill. Both Chambers of Congress passed the legislation last week and President Donald Trump is expected to sign this week. Weyrich says the Farm Bill affects every American, not just farmers. She says it could be thought of as the “food bill” because it essentially sets policy for every aspect of food in the U.S. from crop insurance to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Weyrich highlighted to WGIL how the legislation will allow more planting flexibility and a strengthened crop insurance program. Rep. Cheri Bustos included a program in the bill that aims to encourage more young people to go into farming. Weyrich says that it’s true that the Knox County Farm Bureau age is increasing.
“Luckily, here a lot of these family farms I noticed are so rooted in this county and so we are seeing the kids wanting to come back and farm. But unfortunately, there are still sons and nephews that are at that age that are still farming and aren’t going to retire at 55 or 65.”
Had Congress not passed a Farm Bill, the 116th Congress would have had to start the process all over next year.
