HARVEY AFTERMATH ALSO
AFFECTING LEGISLATURE
Uncertainty looms as D.C. works through
relief options ahead of farm bill discussion
A
s farmers in our area continue work to recover from the
aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, the legislative climate in
Washington, D.C. seems as stormy as ever. groups are also working on formulating policy for the next Farm
Bill, which could begin debate in Congress before year-end. In
particular, cotton will face significant challenges in this Farm Bill
process as the industry works to get cotton back into the commod-
ity title.
Last month at an agriculture roundtable meeting in
Hillje, local producers and various commodity groups
did great work conveying the severity of Harvey damages to
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and U.S. House Agricul-
ture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway. Cotton producers also
conveyed the urgent need for a ginning cost share program that
would provide much needed cashflow to producers suffering losses
from the storm. There is no denying that we have our work cut out for us. While
uncertainty abounds in Washington DC, there is one thing of
which producers can be certain. There are a great number of talent-
ed and dedicated people working on behalf of agricultural produc-
ers in South Texas. This includes commodity groups like STCGA,
your local co-op, and individual producers who are leaders in these
organizations. All work to make sure you have a voice and your
interests are represented.
By Jeff Nunley
For South Texas Cotton & Grain Association, the ginning cost
share program continues to be a major focus of attention. Unfor-
tunately, it seems like the target for the ginning cost share pro-
gram keeps shifting. Last week, we had word that the Secretary of
Agriculture had identified offsets within USDA’s budget to fund
a program, but at a much-reduced rate from the gin cost share
program producers received in 2016 based on 2015 planted
cotton acres. This week, reports are that there is less cer-
tainty on the availability of funds.
Added into all this are other issues that could delay,
or derail, gin cost share. Because of uncertainty of
funds within USDA’s budget, there is discussion of
possible funding through a supplemental disaster ap-
propriation that could happen later this fall. Stand-
ing in the way of that, however, is a budget resolu-
tion that congressional leaders must pass to pave the
way for tax reform.
To date, two separate supplemental disaster appro-
priation packages have been passed to provide relief
to hurricane hit areas. Unfortunately, neither of the
supplemental bills contained any funding specifically
targeted to agriculture. More than one source from D.C.
has stated that it remains to be seen if agriculture will be
included in the next supplemental appropriation.
If all that is not enough to make your head spin, commodity