Farm groups are trying to stave off demands to include more cuts in the farm bill for crop insurance and commodity programs

OMAHA (DTN) -- A group of 65 organizations -- including farm, conservation and wildlife groups -- sent a letter Thursday to every member of the House of Representatives, urging them not to propose amendments to the farm bill "that would do significant harm to crop insurance and to rural America."The groups stated they were opposed to any amendments that would reduce or limit participation in crop insurance, make crop insurance more expensive or "harm private-sector delivery" of crop insurance. The groups detailed the justification for crop insurance for farmers and the value to taxpayers by avoiding ad-hoc disaster aid to producers. And the letter urged congressmen to oppose any amendments to the farm bill that would harm crop insurance. Not knowing exactly when the farm bill was going to come to the House floor, supporters of crop insurance felt the need to remind congressmen about the value of crop insurance and also to reach out to more 110 congressmen who were not in office the last time a farm bill came to the House floor.