PRESS RELEASE: Texas Wheat Applauds Passage of 2018 Farm Bill

AMARILLO, Texas (December 20, 2018) – The Texas Wheat Producers Association (TWPA) would like to express appreciation to all members of Congress who played a part in passing the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, also known as the 2018 Farm Bill.

“The 2018 Farm Bill is a strong, bipartisan bill that improves vital farm programs and invests in market development,” said Jody Bellah, president of the Texas Wheat Producers Association. “We are grateful to have legislation passed before the end of the year, ensuring that Texas wheat growers have security going into 2019.”

While some provisions from the 2014 Farm Bill will be maintained under the new legislation, there are several changes of interest to Texas wheat growers including:

• The option for producers to make an annual decision between ARC and PLC starting in 2021 and an optional yield update for the PLC program.
• The establishment of the Effective Reference Price, which allows for reference price escalation if the 5-year Olympic average increases compared to the reference price created in the 2014 Farm Bill ($5.50 for wheat).
• Increased funding and flexibility for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
• Renewed funding for the Market Access Program/Foreign Market Development Program under the Agricultural Trade and Facilitation Program.

“The passage of this bill would not have been possible without the tireless work of so many, including House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway and many other Texas legislators,” said Bellah. “We look forward to the implementation of the programs included in this bill that offer important options for risk management, maintain crop insurance, restore important trade development efforts and improve voluntary conservation programs.”

For more information, please visit texaswheat.org/for-farmers/2018-farm-bill. 

The Texas Wheat Producers Association is a voluntary membership organization of wheat producers in Texas.  The association provides growers a concentrated, organized voice in political matters affecting the production and marketing of their crops. For more information, visit http://www.texaswheat.org.