Dear SWCA Member,
There is currently a lot of planning, working and wishful thinking going on in DC right now - all in the context of the Super Committee process and the prospect that certain farm bill provisions will be included on this vehicle.
In this vein, leadership from the Senate and House Ag Committees are currently working to draft policies that will best serve agriculture under the expected budget constraints dictated by the Super Committee.
As you know, there are numerous plans and policy proposals that have been submitted from farm groups all over the nation. These all have strengths, weaknesses and important differences that have big potential impacts on specific commodities and regions.
The SWCA Board gathered last Friday for a day-long retreat to discuss these key differences, and the most important issues for the region. Out of this, we drafted this letter (you can read it here) which has been sent to Capitol Hill laying out the key priorities and principles for the SWCA. It is general in nature — such that any number of the plans being discussed could fit within the principles — but relevant in that it is timely, and if these priorities are followed, we feel confident that whatever is developed will work well for producers and the businesses that support them.
As always if you have any questions or concerns related to policy, or advice on how we can serve you better, never hesitate to give us a call.
Tom Sell
