ATLANTA, Georgia – Prices are up, yields are up and North American farmers are set to have one of the strongest financial five-year-periods they have enjoyed in two decades, says an former U.S. politician.
And, he said, farmers shouldn’t be shy about their success if they want to ensure it continues.
“As farmers when have we ever seen prices this high in all areas at once. There isn’t a sector that isn’t in good shape,” said Jim Nussle, former American House of Representatives member and finance committee chair.
But farmers often keep quiet when times are good and that might not be in their best interests, he said while attending the start of the AgConnect farm show in Atlanta Jan. 7.
“The idea that if you say it’s going well, that the landlord will find out and jack the rental prices isn’t a strong argument for skipping farm meetings and not strongly supporting farm groups that represent your interests,” said Nussle.
Tom Buis heads a group that represents small and medium sized ethanol distilleries and is the former president of the National Farmers Union and feels it’s the ideal time for farmers to make themselves heard.
“Governments at all levels are looking for places to cut.”
In the United States, the farm bill that provides economic support for producers is up for renewal and with the relative strength of the farm economy compared to other sectors, agriculture could present an easy target.
Nussle said the $7 billion in direct farm payments and a $6 billion ethanol subsidy will be targeted for cuts, despite being a drop in the $3.5 trillion U.S. budget.
“There will be a bunch of politicians that will happy to tell the general public ‘I cut off that big, rich farmer from his government payments.’ That stuff will sell at the ballot box in any country,” said the former politician.
