Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and committee ranking member U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), held the first 2023 farm bill hearing in Michigan. Michigan Corn Growers Association board member Allyson Maxwell testified at the hearing titled “Growing Jobs and Economic Opportunity: 2023 Farm Bill Perspectives from Michigan,” outlining many of the priorities that are important for corn farmers across the U.S.
“The safety net provided by crop insurance is vital to maintaining the agriculture industry in this country, especially in the face of increasingly unpredictable disasters like droughts, floods and extreme weather,” Maxwell said.
Maxwell went on to talk about the importance of assistance for new/beginning farmers, bolstering U.S. international market development efforts through the Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) program, and the role conservation and sustainable farming practices play in her operation.
“As Congress discusses reauthorizing the farm bill, I hope that the issues facing farmers today will remain top of mind,” added Maxwell. “A successful farm bill reauthorization should continue critical loan programs for new and existing farmers, while bringing them in line with the economic realities facing farmers today.”
NCGA and state corn grower associations will continue to be engaged in the farm bill process and work to advance the issues important to America’s corn farmers.