Cotton Growers: Farmers need the Farm Bill

Congress will return to Washington on Tuesday, where they will consider the Farm Act. With no Farm Bill on the books, it was introduced to give farmers financial help.

Cotton growers say farmers need the support.

“And so we want to provide kind of a three-legged stool to bridge some of this gap moving forward from financial assistance to help mend the ag community, so we can continue to be helpful in developing food and fiber in the near term to come, and not have attrition if we do not see any of these avenues move forward. We see one stool that is lagging, and we will see attrition in the industry, be it producers or infrastructure at that most and that’s that’s unacceptable at this point,” said Kody Bessent.

The Farm Act could cost as much as $21 billion, which some analysts say will be a tough sell. Some lawmakers say the hefty price tag could complicate Farm Bill talks, which are still in progress.

Related Stories
Lawmakers advance FY27 agriculture funding bill, highlighting support for rural development, school lunches, disease response, and water issues.
National Pork Producers Council President Rob Brenneman joins us to discuss Prop 12 provisions in the House’s Farm Bill as it heads to the Senate for debate.
RealAg Radio’s Shaun Haney and other experts break down ongoing energy market volatility, its impact on producer decision-making, and key indicators farmers should monitor moving forward.
Farm legal expert Roger McEowen joins us to discuss the importance of a traditional Farm Bill and his concerns over shifting policy approaches.
The new county maps show farm program payments are widespread, but payment design still produces very different outcomes across regions and crops. AgriSompo’s Brooks York joins us to discuss the role of crop insurance in supporting mental health.
In an exclusive interview with RFD News correspondent Frank McCaffrey, Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX) expresses frustration with delays and increasing political divisions surrounding the bill.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Speaking about his administration’s tariff strategy, Trump acknowledged that producers could face financial strain in the short term but promised stopgap support.
Rising cow numbers and higher yields are boosting milk supplies, which may keep pressure on prices and farm margins into the fall.
As input costs continue to rise, diesel prices have held steady in recent weeks, according to energy analysts at GasBuddy.
The USDA is moving to close the farm trade gap through promotion, missions, and stronger export financing.
Farm legal and taxation expert Roger McEowen explains the IRS’s shift to electronic payments and disbursements, and what it means for upcoming tax filings.
Estate tax relief reduces pressure, but succession planning remains the critical challenge for farm families.