Commodity prices are strong, but the margins are being squeezed by high input costs. Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association Executive Harrison Weber says that means agriculture will need more in the next farm bill. “It might be strengthening the farm safety net with crop insurance, it might be other tweaks on how certain programs are administered, but I think agriculture as a whole will be going to Congress and asking for more.” To be successful with the next farm bill, the sugarbeet industry needs to build coalitions. “We only have 1.1 million acres of sugarbeets across the United States and our growers are also raising corn, soybeans, wheat, barley and more so we want to continue our strong relationships with those commodity groups.” Commodity groups not represented in the Red River Valley, such as cotton and rice, are also allies in the farm bill process. Listen to the RRFN interview.
