Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Tim Johnson (D-SD) today introduced legislation that is important in efforts to focus federal agricultural support programs where they are needed most. Establishing limits on payments and closing egregious loopholes in federal commodity support programs is an important step on the long journey to reform.

The Rural America Preservation Act of 2012, will set hard caps of $75,000 ($150,000 married couples) on loan deficiency and marketing loan gains, and $50,000 ($100,000 married couples) for other existing and proposed commodity support programs. This bill would also limit payments to those actively providing real work or management, closing loopholes that allow too many to farm the federal programs instead of the land.

The following is a statement by Steve Ellis, Vice President of Taxpayers for Common Sense, on introduction of the Rural America Preservation Act of 2012

“Taxpayer dollars should only support people who actually need the help. The Rural America Preservation Act of 2012 is one of many steps needed to move federal agricultural policy in the right direction. This bill will close loopholes that allow paper farmers to game the system at the expense of those actually working the land. By establishing reasonable caps on payments individuals can obtain under existing and any new commodity support programs, it will help ensure taxpayers are providing an adequate and appropriate safety net for American farmers. With a $15 trillion debt, it’s long past time to prioritize and reorient all federal programs to where they are needed most. Reforming our commodity support programs, as well as crop insurance, conservation, and other taxpayer financed agricultural supports, so they help only those who need it, is long overdue.”

Download a copy of the Rural America Preservation Act of 2012: HERE