To the Editor:

The Virginia Grain Producers Association commends the House of Representatives on their passage of the split version of the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act (2013 farm bill).

This bill provides for farm, conservation, research, trade promotion and energy measures. While nutrition programs have been severed from farm programs, passage of this farm bill remains critical to every American — all who eat as well as all who produce.

This bill provides meaningful reform to agricultural policy and creates a program that is more market oriented and less costly to the American taxpayer. We are pleased the House can now move to a conference process with the Senate and work toward a product that can be approved by both chambers and President Obama before the current farm bill extension expires.

Our thanks go out to Virginia Representatives Cantor, Forbes, Goodlatte, Griffith, Hurt, Rigell, Wittman and Wolf for voting in favor of this bill. We are proud to see our Congressional Delegation show such support for the agriculture industry.

Ben Rowe
Managing Director
Virginia Grain Producers Association