Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation
Agricultural News and Information

Mississippi Farm Bureau Dissents from American Farm Bureau Federation on Farm Policy Position

Jackson, MS---The Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors voted unanimously today to formally dissent from the American Farm Bureau Federation policy over its current language concerning the upcoming Farm Bill.

Farm Bureau President Randy Knight said, "We feel like the American Farm Bureau Federation's policy on the Farm Bill did not adequately address the needs of Mississippi producers. We have notified AFBF that we will work with our congressional delegation in a different direction on farm policy that better addresses the risks and hazards that we face in Mississippi."

In a long discussion during the policy development session, Mississippi voting delegates offered several amendments at that would have allowed AFBF to be more flexible in farm policy, taking into consideration some regional and commodity differences. Ultimately that effort failed.

“The board felt like formally dissenting from policy was necessary to better represent our members during the important Farm Bill negotiations," said Knight. "We look forward to working with other states and our Mississippi congressional delegation on a Farm Bill that takes into consideration the needs of all commodities in Mississippi."

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The Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation is the state's largest general farm organization with more than 199,000 member-families statewide.  There are Farm Bureaus in all 82 counties in Mississippi where agriculture comprises a fundamental part of Mississippi 's economy.  Headquartered in Jackson , the federation is an independent, non-profit agricultural organization and is not associated with any arm of the government.  For more information about Farm Bureau, visit our website at www.msfb.org.