Columbia, TN. December 12, 2018 – The following may be attributed to Tennessee Farm Bureau President Jeff Aiken:
“Today more than ever, our farmers and our country need a strong national farm policy and we finally got that today with passage of the 2018 farm bill by the House of Representatives after the Senate overwhelmingly approved it yesterday. Now we are hopeful the President will sign the bill into law quickly, so our farmers can have assurance of support in working to provide the world’s safest and most abundant food supply.
“A new farm bill gives a renewed spirit of hope for our most important industry. Our farmers have continued to face tough challenges from markets and weather as they have seen farm income drop by fifty percent over the past five years. The farm bill will continue to provide important risk management tools, foreign market development and conservation programs. This bill benefits not just our farmers but all Americans.
“We appreciate the Trump administration and our members of Congress for their support of the 2018 farm bill: Tennessee Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker voted ‘yea’ for the bill as did Representatives Phil Roe, Chuck Fleischmann, Scott DesJarlais, Diane Black, Jim Cooper, Marsha Blackburn, David Kustoff and Steve Cohen.”