(NAFB.com) – American Soybean Association President Daryl Cates testified before the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit. Cates offered ASA’s perspectives on the 2023 Farm Bill and asked for help with two priorities under the subcommittee’s jurisdiction. The first was protecting crop insurance, and the second was improving the Title 1 farm safety net for soybeans. Cates called crop insurance, “The most effective and important component of the farm safety net for soybean farmers.” National Sorghum Producers Chair Craig Meeker also testified during the hearing. “It’s clear that more resources will be necessary to enact a strong farm bill this year as there’s a major shortfall of funding compared to previous bills,” Meeker says. He also reaffirmed his group’s support for crop insurance, noting that he would not be the sixth generation on his family farm without it. Crop insurance has been critical in managing an ongoing drought.