Tariffs and trade disputes with China. Uncertainty in the North American export market. Corn products such as livestock and ethanol facing reduced market opportunities. Steadily increasing input costs. Diminishing commodity prices. These issues and more culminate to a dire circumstance for corn farmers and the agricultural industry – putting the financial certainty of America’s farmers and domestic food production at risk. The fallout from these issues reaches beyond just one agricultural commodity, and farther than simply a lost market. Texas Corn Producers Association encourages Texas corn farmers to TAKE ACTION NOW. Take a moment to email and call the administration, urging them to develop an aid package that:
- Takes into consideration cost increases, as well as price declines.
- Excludes payment limits at a critical time for all American farmers.
- Utilizes 2018 data in effort to efficiently get funds in the hands of farmers now, and determines payments on a farmer’s recent history of the higher of:
- Actual 2018 Yield, or
- Actual Production History (APH), or
- Price Loss Coverage yield.
America’s farmers need equitable aid allotments for all program commodities in its new trade aid package.
This approach is supported by the Ag & Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University’s (AFPC) recent study commissioned by Southwest Council of Agribusiness (SWCA), of which TCPA is an active member. Dive into AFPC’s calculations HERE, as well as its explanation methodology HERE. TCPA is actively working with SWCA, National Corn Growers Association, and fellow agricultural organizations to ensure the role trade disruptions play on all program commodities is recognized in this new mitigation package. TCPA sent this letter to the administration outlining measures to achieve an equitable package for all program commodities so corn is not left by the wayside again.
What can you do
The administration needs to hear from farmers about what’s needed to get America’s farmers and the rural economy through these tough times.
Send an email:
Who to email:
Sample email:
Corn farmers like myself are facing troubling times for our farms and our industry as a whole. I appreciate the administration recognizing the impact drawn out trade talks continue to have on the agricultural market, and announcing new trade mitigation. I support the views expressed by the Texas Corn Producers Association in its letter, including:
- Taking into consideration cost increases, as well as price declines.
- Excluding payment limits.
- Utilizing 2018 data to determine payments on our recent history of the higher of:
- Actual 2018 Yield, or
- Actual Production History (APH), or
- Price Loss Coverage yield.
I urge USDA to determine equitable aid allotments for all program commodities to keep the agriculture and rural economy from crashing.
Thank you for your commitment to all of the nation’s farmers, and consideration as you develop this new trade mitigation.
Make a phone call:
In addition to sending an email, please call the administration and voice the needs for corn farmers.
Who to call:
- White House comment line at: 202.456.1111
Please be advised that you may have to wait on hold to leave your message for the president. - U.S. Department of Agriculture at: 202.205.1000. Press “0” to leave a message with your name and contact number.
Sample talking points:
The call operators take hundreds of calls each day and will want your brief, succinct comments. We recommend choosing 2-3 main points when you call:
- Farmers need equitable aid allotments for all program commodities to keep the agriculture and rural economy from crashing.
- A mitigation package should take into consideration cost increases, as well as price declines.
- Exclude payment limits for aid payments so the rural economy as a whole has access to the mitigation.
- Trade disruptions have had a devastating impact on farmers like myself. Farmers need mitigation funds now.
- Texas farmers have seed in the ground, and corn reaching end stages in parts of our state – with harvest just around the bend, market uncertainty will gravely impact our ability to make a living and keep our family farms in business.
- Farmer incomes declined $11.8 billion in the first quarter of 2019.
- The season-average farm price for corn is projected at $3.30 per bushel, down 20 cents from 2018/19 and the lowest since 2006/07.
