Letter to the editor: America needs a farm bill to keep its food supply secure

Most North Dakotans agree that the passage of a workable farm bill has been the linchpin of economic survival and eventual success of our rural communities and small businesses, as well as North Dakota farmers and ranchers.

The partisan play prior to recess by the Republican leadership in the House has seriously jeopardized the passage of a new farm bill. Rep. Rick Berg, R-N.D., urged the Republican leadership in the House to consider the House Agriculture Committee’s farm bill proposal. My hat’s off to Berg for his efforts, but he was unable to convince the leadership of his own party to support the proposal — let alone bring it forward for consideration by the House.

Furthermore, how does he reconcile his support of a farm bill with his earlier vote supporting the Ryan Budget? Ryan’s budget proposes cuts of $180 billion to the farm bill and, more specifically, cuts to the commodity title and crop insurance by $31 billion over 10 years.

Those who endorse and support Berg’s run for the U.S. Senate provide political cover for his incongruous positions on the farm bill and budget by stating that he opposes proposed funding levels for nutrition. This cover is a bit misplaced, since one of the primary objectives of a farm bill is food security. To that point, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that in 2011 an estimated 5.5 percent of Americans, nearly 17 million people, suffered from very low food security.

Richard F. Schlosser

Edgeley, N.D.

Tags: opinion, letters, politics