(The Center Square) – A group of Republican governors has joined together in a letter to key congressional leaders and agricultural policymakers that warns that delayed reforms and inflationary pressures are pushing farmers to a breaking point.
The letter, signed by 17 U.S. governors, addresses the issues the agriculture industry has faced over recent years, pointing to inflation-driven fuel, fertilizer and feed cost spikes.
The Farm Bill is a vital piece of U.S. legislation that is renewed every five years and addresses a broad range of agricultural and nutrition policies, including crop insurance, disaster insurance, conservation programs, and food aid.
The 2018 Farm Bill was not extended after Sept. 30, 2024, potentially affecting programs such as nutrition and conservation, among other agricultural programs due to the end of the fiscal year.
As the 2023 Farm Bill version remains unresolved, Congress is considering a one-year extension to the 2018 Farm Bill.
The letter reiterates that another extension to the 2018 Farm Bill will leave farmers working under an outdated plan as they continue to face evolving changes, stating, “Domestic agricultural production is a matter of national security. If a country can’t feed itself, fuel itself, or fight for itself, then it cannot survive. It is imperative that the United States not become dependent on other countries for our food supply, while we have the best farmers and ranchers in the world right in our backyards.”
House Republicans previously rejected a 1,400-page Farm Bill proposed last month by U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-MI.
Stabenow called for more significant investment in climate resilience and food security programs, stating that her bill would keep “Farmers Farming, families fed, and rural communities strong.”
U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-KS, has openly criticized the legislative process, the lack of urgency and the lack of bipartisan collaboration.
“Today’s move shows that Senate Democrats have walked away from meaningful bipartisan negotiations that are a tradition in this committee and have opted to play politics with the livelihoods of hard-working farmers and ranchers at a time when Rural America needs real solutions,” Marshall said in a statement after Stabenow filed her bill.
Although farmers will still be able to operate temporarily under the 2018 Farm Bill’s provisions if Congress does approve the one-year extension, the letter underscores the urgency of passing a new bill for the future of American agriculture.
The letter was signed by the governors of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia.
By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square
