Agriculture Groups Express Support for 2022 Emergency Relief Program Extension
WASHINGTON, DC (December 1, 2022)—In a letter sent today to U.S. House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee leadership, National Sorghum Producers joined a coalition of agriculture organizations calling on the committee to include adequate resources that extend the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) to cover losses for 2022.
The letter, sent to Senate Chairwoman Tammy Baldwin, House Chairman Sanford Bishop, Senate Ranking Member John Hoeven, and House Ranking Member Andy Harris, was signed by American Cotton Producers, American Soybean Association, American Sugar Alliance, California Walnut Commission, CropLife America, Farm Credit Council, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Corn Growers Association, National Cotton Council, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, National Farmers Union, National Pecan Federation, National Sorghum Producers, Texas Citrus Mutual, U.S. Peanut Federation and USA Rice.
“Disaster relief paid through the WHIP+ and ERP programs over the last several years has been critical to keeping farms across the Sorghum Belt in business,” NSP Chairman Craig Meeker, a sorghum farmer from Wellington, Kansas, said. “This year, sorghum farmers are experiencing the worst average yields in our industry since 1964. From hurricanes in South Texas to crippling, dry conditions in the plains states, our farmers depend on disaster relief, and we believe an extension to cover losses from the 2022 growing season is essential.”
The groups said the 2023 Farm Bill presents an opportunity to strengthen the farm safety net and potentially reduce or eliminate the need for ad hoc programs; however, extending ERP for 2022 losses is a critical bridge to the next Farm Bill.
“The approach taken under Phase I of ERP worked well for producers and we encourage Congress to use this model for future relief,” the letter stated, “including for Phase II [for 2020 and 2021] as well as 2022 losses, except where a unique approach for a commodity is required.”
###
National Sorghum Producers represents U.S. sorghum producers and serves as the voice of the sorghum industry coast to coast through legislative and regulatory representation and education. To learn more about NSP, visit www.sorghumgrowers.com.