CAMBRIDGE, Illinois — The latest version of the farm bill is making its way through Congress, and some Henry County farmers are chiming in.
It's one of the most important pieces of legislation for farmers across the country, especially in Henry County, where people rely on the $1.5 trillion bill to continue their work.
Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Illinois) spoke to Henry County farmers about the proposed version of the farm bill. It was voted out of the House Committee on Agriculture last week with bipartisan support.
"When we set farm policy, which we will for the next five years, it’s important we get it right," LaHood said. "Get it right on regulation, get it right on taxes, make sure we’re supporting our farmers."
One of those farmers is Steve Nightingale, president of the Henry County Farm Bureau.
"My main concern with the farm bill is — first and foremost for this area — is crop insurance," Nightingale said.
In the Midwest, Nightingale said crop insurance is more important than ever. Along with expanding access to that insurance, the proposed bill would increase payouts if the price of a crop falls too low.
"There seems to be in the last how many years, there has been more extreme weather, things out of our control," Nightingale said. "So the extreme happens, this is what helps us, we pay into crop insurance, we have part of the pie, and this basically is the safety net for farmers."
The farm bill is still a long way from becoming law. It must now be passed by the full House, then merged with a Senate version — which still isn't completed. Lawmakers have until the end of September to pass it, or they have to vote on an extension of the 2018 farm bill.
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