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Expanded risk management ideal in next farm bill

 

A dairy farmer believes expanded risk management coverage in the next farm bill will provide more options to farmers plagued by low prices.

“I really think for the entire industry, removing that cap on the insurance is a bigger deal than the MMP reforms, but there’s certainly a segment of the industry that’s going to see some immediate relief.”

Brian Preston milks 800 cows with his family in southern Michigan. He tells Brownfield Congress removing the cap on the livestock gross margin program and American Farm Bureau’s dairy revenue program will benefit farms producing more than five million pounds of milk, like his, the most.  “We’ve got to manage risk.  In the dairy industry right now everything’s about price and I think that’s what the AFBF program is maybe going to help us do better.”

Preston and other members of the Michigan Farm Bureau participated in a farm bill fly-in to meet with lawmakers in Washington, D.C. this week.

Preston says during their visit House Ag Committee Chairman Mike Conaway reinforced his committed to moving the 2018 Farm Bill forward by early spring.

AUDIO: Interview with Brian Preston