ASA joined farm bill stakeholders in two letters to conferees this week. An unusual group of 42 stakeholders wrote in support of the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR), which is included in the Senate-passed bill.

“The Foundation would complement USDA’s portfolio of intramural and extramural research programs,” the letter says. “Establishing a FFAR will generate new sources of funding for food and agricultural research, and provide a structure for new public/private partnerships and investments.  A FFAR can help provide funding for new concepts and ideas, high risk/high reward research, research to address knowledge gaps, translational research and emerging research needs.”

Other signers on the research letter include the American Association of Avian Pathologists and the Aquatic Plant Management Society, along with farm groups and science societies.

The second letter called on conferees to “do no harm” to Federal crop insurance. “We write to express our support for strong, meaningful, and affordable crop insurance protection for this nation’s farmers and ranchers, and our opposition to any changes to crop insurance that would discourage producer participation or undermine private sector delivery,” the letter says. “The significant, widespread crop losses of 2011 and 2012 have clearly demonstrated the need for crop insurance protection and the public-private partnership of program delivery.” The crop insurance letter was signed by 36 stakeholder groups, including farm groups, lenders, and crop insurance interests.

Click here to see letters.