NCC Official Testifies on Risk Management

In testimony before a House Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Wednesday, the National Cotton Council urged continued oversight of risk management, including the federal crop insurance program, to ensure a meaningful tool is available for producers. Rickey Bearden, the chairman of the NCC’s Crop Insurance Task Force, asked that - innovative policies be developed to make crop insurance more useful in various and ever-changing production conditions.

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson too called for the continuation and improvement of risk management tools. Johnson said effective risk management tools are important for agricultural producers to compete in today's farming environment.

Johnson pointed out that America's farmers and ranchers cannot control three significant factors that impact their ability to stay in business - weather, market prices and input costs. He said, - as production practices change, weather patterns remain unpredictable, market prices fluctuate and input costs increase, adequate risk management tools are vital to the future of our nation's family farmers and ranchers.