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Farm Bureau leader says Congressional help is needed

An agricultural economist says farmers need Washington D.C. to get back to work.

Dr. John Newton says, “There’s no shortage of challenges facing agriculture.”

Newton returned to American Farm Bureau Federation to serve as its Vice President of Public Policy and Economic Analysis.   Newton says right now, it is the tale of two very different farm economies. “The crop side of the balance sheet is suffering the largest three-year decline in crop cash reciepts that we’ve seen in history while input costs remain elevated, so that’s squeezing one side of the farm. Then on the other side, the livestock business has been what’s held up the farm economy.”

Newton says there is talk in Washington about a government aid package. “A lot of folks would like to see an end to the government shutdown so that Congress can get to work, so that we can get the details on what a potential bridge package would look like.”

Newton says many farmers are struggling, and an expired and outdated farm bill, limited USDA services, and the need for aid and more trade deals isn’t helping.

AUDIO: John Newton at American Farm Bureau Federation discusses the government shutdown, his return to Farm Bureau, and several concerns with the ag economy with Brownfield’s Larry Lee