Johnson Brings Together South Dakota Ag Producers to Discuss Importance of Passing Farm Bill

Press Release

U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) today brought together South Dakota agriculture producers to discuss the need for Congress to finish work on a new farm bill. During a meeting with the South Dakota Farmers Union, Johnson was presented with the Golden Triangle Award for his continued support of South Dakota's farmers and ranchers.

"My Senate colleagues and I have passed a bipartisan farm bill that would create certainty for South Dakota's producers, and the House has yet to bring a farm bill to a vote," said Johnson. "We only have a few short weeks before the end of the year. South Dakota producers and I are again calling on the House to bring this critically important bill to the floor for a vote."

The five-year, Senate-passed farm bill provides producers with long-term certainty. It strengthens crop insurance, reauthorizes livestock disaster assistance and ends direct payments. It reduces the deficit by $23 billion over ten years.

The failure of the House to pass a farm bill means the savings in the Senate bill are not achieved. This provides no certainty for producers, and the country is close to reverting back to the agriculture policies of the 1940s. Livestock disaster assistance programs have expired. No new Conservation Reserve Program, Grasslands Reserve Program, or Wetlands Reserve Program contracts can be issued.

The Golden Triangle Award is the highest honor the organization gives lawmakers. Johnson has received the award 16 other times.

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