N.D. Farmers Union praises payment limits

North Dakota Farmers Union said Thursday it applauded efforts to establish payment limitations on farm programs outlined in the Rural America Preservation Act of 2012, sponsored by Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Tim Johnson, D-S.D. The bill would tighten eligibility requirements and limits the total value of payments farmers can receive annually.

NDFU President Elwood “Woody” Barth said this bill directly correlates to the state organization • s policy.

“It • s clear that payment limits as they are currently formulated are ineffective,” he said. “This situation undermines public support for farm programs so realistic and meaningful payment limits need to be implemented. Our policy clearly states this.”

The proposed bill would cap loan deficiency payments and marketing loan gains at $75,000 each and impose a $50,000 limit on all other commodity programs. The combined limit for payments to married farm couples would be $250,000.

The legislation would also improve the “measurable standard” by which the U.S. Department of Agriculture determines who should and should not receive farm payments.

NDFU policy outlines that the definition of a person who is actively engaged in production agriculture needs to be strengthened to require active personal management and active personal labor in the actual farming operation and that payments should be transparent and directly attributable to a person who meets the criteria of actively engaged.

National Farmers Union also extended its support to this bill. NFU President Roger Johnson said, “Directing farm program benefits so that they meet the reasonable needs of family farmers would reduce government costs while furthering the sustainability of our family farms, our rural communities and our natural resources.”

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