Uncertainty Grows Over Climate-Smart Ag Contracts

At the National Farmers Union Convention, former National Corn Growers CEO John Doggett emphasized the growing interest in climate-smart agriculture and its potential benefits. Despite the promise of government-backed programs, farmers remain uncertain about payments for climate-smart contracts they’ve already committed to. “The questions I’ve had are, are we going to get paid on the contracts that we’ve signed and the work that we’ve done?” Doggett said, stressing the importance of timely payments. Beyond financial concerns, he also pointed to broader instability in Rural America, drawing comparisons to past turbulent times. “I’ve never seen it this chaotic before,” he reflected, calling on Washington to prioritize the needs of farmers and rural communities.