In celebration of Governor’s Day at the Delaware State Fair July 25, Gov. John Carney signed two significant agricultural bills, House Bill 87 and House Bill 392, both of which aim to support and sustain Delaware's agricultural industry, the state's leading economic sector.

Carney emphasized the importance of keeping the agricultural industry profitable for family farmers, saying, "These two pieces of legislation help do just that. We want Delaware’s No. 1 industry, agriculture, to thrive well into the future."

Delaware Farm Bureau President Bill Powers said having these bills signed into law fulfills long-standing DEFB policy advocating a state cost-share role in helping producers afford relevant risk-management coverage. “This demonstrates that farm bureau advocacy works. We work at pursuing positive change for Delaware producers, and we don’t quit.”

House Bill 87 establishes the Delaware Agricultural Production Assistance Program. This program provides a subsidy of up to 30% of the premium for eligible producers’ multi-peril crop insurance premium or whole farm revenue protection premium, with a maximum subsidy of $10 per acre. The Delaware Department of Agriculture will handle and pay the subsidy.

DEFB Executive Director Don Clifton played a crucial role in developing this bill. He said, "It is very gratifying to have Gov. Carney sign these bills today. The funding authorized in them is a fraction of the potential impact of enhancing the risk-management options for Delaware producers. We worked with House Ag Chairman Bill Carson, the primary sponsor on both bills, and Senate Ag chair and bill sponsor Russ Huxtable, to guide these bills through the General Assembly. With their leadership, both bills passed unanimously in each chamber.”

Clifton added, “Thanks go out to each state representative and senator for their support. Thanks as well to DDA Secretary Michael Scuse for his guidance and leadership; Nikko Brady, who was instrumental as the ag person on the governor’s staff; and Gov. Carney for his support throughout."

House Bill 392 enables eligible dairy operators to be reimbursed by DDA for the cost of the premium to enroll in a voluntary U.S. Department of Agriculture program that offers risk-management coverage to dairy producers based on the difference between the national price of milk and the average cost of feed.

Rep. Bill Carson, D-Smyrna, who sponsored both bills, said, "I’d like to give many thanks to the agriculture community and farmers as a whole for their input on what is the economic driver in Delaware, which is the agricultural industry. We worked on the crop insurance bill for almost two years, and it took that long to get it through the General Assembly. I’d like to thank the Delaware Farm Bureau and all the farmers who have come forward to tell us how much they need these programs. I encourage farmers to continue communicating in the future on issues that need to be addressed."

For more information on Delaware Farm Bureau, visit defb.org.