WASHINGTON (Gray DC) – Millions around the country and the world are dependent on Congress striking a deal on what’s known as the Farm Bill.
Farmers and those in agricultural industry rely on a strong farm bill to make sure their crops and products make it to the stores and tables of families across the world. Tim Boring, director of Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development says the Farm Bill gives the state’s specialty crop growers certainty and tools to weather bad times.
“Orchards, vegetables, all of our crops are seeing a lot of these impacts from too much rain, the periods of the time and ongoing drought. And so we certainly see that the need to update a lot of the crop insurance tools, that farmers are currently relying on whole farm policies, those need streamlining, those need some improvements so that they’re better meeting the needs of growers.”
Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) is the highest-ranking Democrat on the Agricultural Committee. She fears how President Donald Trump’s tariffs could impact farmers. She hopes the farm bill they create tackles the issues farmers face today.
“Whether they are avian flu, whether they’re input costs, whether they’re these potential tariffs, that I do not agree with or what. Just wanted to put a footnote on that.”
While many on the committee are concerned about threats from mother nature and the market, Agriculture Committee Chair John Bozeman of Arkansas expressed concerns.
“We must address regulatory overreach, burdening all producers.”
The farm bill was originally expected to expire in 2023 … but was extended through September this year.
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