Misnomer aside, farmers and ranchers welcome farm bill.

• Author: Romig, Suzie
• Position: AGRICULTURE

FARMER MARK LINNEBUR'S FAMILY has been raising wheat in Eastern Colorado since the 1930s, so he and his five brothers know a thing or two about the ups and downs of agriculture.

The family farm totals 8,000 acres near Byers in Arapahoe County, and Linnebur is one of many farmers who is happy the U.S. farm bill, or Agriculture Act of 2014, was signed in February.

With delays and political wrangling in the past, what the farm bill means to Colorado agriculture is more stability.

"Farming is an inherently risky business. This helps make it so families can stay farming, and it will prevent it from going corporate," Linnebur said. "If we can maintain families in farming, then we protect our environment and the land we live on to preserve it for the next generation."

Colorado farmers and ranchers are quick to point out that "farm bill" is a misnomer, saying the estimated $956 billion package includes 15 percent in funding tied directly to agriculture for farm and crop insurance subsidies. But the majority 80 percent is dedicated to assistance programs such as food stamps, or SNAP, which farmers see as an indirect connection.

"You have a farm bill that is close to a trillion dollars; the public gets a misconception that all that money goes to farmers," said Dave Eckhardt, who works a fifth-generation farm in Weld County.

What matters to Colorado agricultural business owners are the permanent changes in the bill that improve such policies as viable crop insurance, and drought and disaster relief for livestock. Outdated direct payment programs that paid producers regardless of incurred losses were dissolved with little complaint from agriculture groups in exchange for updated revenue loss protection. Ad hoc programs for livestock and grazing losses were made permanent...