Cotton growers on Farm Bill: “There’s an appetite to work together”

The House Ag Committee passed its version of the Farm Bill during the last Congress, but it gained no traction in the Senate. Now, cotton growers are paying attention as this session gets underway.

“And so I think there’ll be some really unique demographics that get to really parlay together, really work together, and come together more so than some of the dynamics we saw going into the end of the 118th and the new 119th Congress that is just now getting started. There’s a lot of appetite, I would say, to really come together, and work together to enhance the policy that we have on the books today,” said Plain Cotton Growers CEO Kody Bessent.

Bessent also points to tax reform as another area they want to be addressed. The 2017 tax cuts will sunset later this year, leaving much of the ag community waiting for answers. President-elect Trump has said extending those cuts will be his top priority this year.

Related Stories
As ag lawmakers in the Senate await the House vote on the Farm Bill, they are eager to discuss the challenges farmers face before it is their turn to take up the critical legislation.
House ag leaders had hoped to get the Farm Bill voted on by Easter, but no dates have been secured just yet.
OHFB President Bill Patterson shares an update from Washington on the group’s policy priorities and the issues shaping agriculture ahead of the 2026 planting season.
Former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and Kansas congressman Dan Glickman joined RFD News to share his outlook on agricultural policy, bipartisan cooperation, and the challenges facing farmers today.
The bill has already cleared the House Agriculture Committee and is headed toward a full House vote, but the timeline for final passage remains unclear. But the question is, when exactly? Could it possibly be a nice little gift for Easter?
UNL student fellow Alison Walbrecht shares her perspective on building support for agricultural research, extension, and teaching while gaining hands-on insight into federal policymaking.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Large carryover stocks continue to put pressure on commodity prices, creating uncertainty for growers looking to market their grain.
Farm CPA Paul Neiffer outlines how producers should navigate evolving Farm Bill provisions and prepare their operations for the next crop year.
Peel says Mexico has a much greater capability to expand its beef industry than it did 20 or 30 years ago in terms of its feeding and packing infrastructure.
Record crops are increasing grain storage needs, prompting safety experts to remind producers of the risk of grain bin entrapment during harvest.
Join the conversation on RURAL AMERICA LIVE — Tonight at 7:30 PM ET, only on RFD-TV.