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AFBF farm bill focus on crop insurance and Prop 12

Protecting crop insurance and addressing Proposition 12 are American Farm Bureau priorities as farm bill negotiations continue. 

AFBF director of government affairs R.J. Layher says crop insurance is in the crosshairs every farm bill.

“Crop insurance is also the cornerstone of the farm safety net, and we are 100 percent opposed to any cuts that could happen to crop insurance.”

He tells Brownfield Farm Bureau wants crop insurance expanded to specialty crop producers.

“Having better risk management tools available will lessen the need for ad hoc disaster (payments).”

Layher says the next farm bill should also include a federal preemption for Prop 12.

“That allows for symmetry in the markets, but also (so) we don’t have a patchwork of state and local regulations that are going to impact how our members do business.”

Brownfield interviewed Layher Tuesday during the Iowa Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Des Moines.