Florida farm leader regrets House farm bill stumble

June 24, 2013

Gainesville – Florida Farm Bureau President John Hoblick expressed the sentiments of farmers and ranchers across the state in lamenting the failure of the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a new farm bill. This measure was approved with bipartisan support after two years of hard work by the House Agriculture Committee.

“I am deeply disappointed in the decision of the U.S. House not to pass H.R. 1947, the 2013 Farm Bill,” Hoblick said. “The ability of our farmers and ranchers to produce an abundant and affordable food and fiber supply for all Americans and continue as Florida’s second largest economic contributor is now weakened. I hope Congress will be able to work in a more bipartisan fashion in the future.”

“I appreciate Representative Steve Southerland’s good faith efforts to advance the Farm Bill,” Hoblick added. “I have no doubt about his commitment to the farmers in his district and throughout Florida.”

“I also thank Florida’s other Representatives who supported a proposed farm bill that would have provided necessary risk management tools for the farmers and ranchers who produce the food, fiber and fuel for all Americans. This bill would also have made meaningful reforms in an antiquated agricultural public policy.”

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Florida Farm Bureau is the Sunshine State’s largest general agricultural organization with more than 147,000 member-families representing Farm Bureaus in 60 counties. Membership provides a multitude of benefits and you don’t have to be a farmer to be a member of Florida Farm Bureau.