The Farm Bureau has a simple yet strong message to Congress: Farmers are at a breaking point, and more family farms are closing up shop.
President Zippy Duvall says the issues range from low prices to high trade deficits and lingering questions around China. He is asking Congress to get some kind of emergency relief to farmers before this calendar year expires.
“These payments must be robust enough to address sector-wide gaps and provide meaningful support as the federal government works to recalibrate trade strategies, stabilize prices, and strengthen key market relationships.”
Read the letter to Congress HERE.
The message comes just hours after Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins addressed the looming farm crisis. During a cabinet meeting with President Trump, she underscored the need to bring costs down for farmers and ranchers, saying they’re working on new markets that will eventually provide prosperity.
Secretary Rollins also said farm aid is delayed while the government is shut down. On september 28th, the USDA reportedly transferred $13 billion dollars from the commodity credit corporation to Secretary Rollins’ office to fund an emergency aid package. At the cabinet meeting, Rollins said emergency payments cannot be released until the government reopens. She said once the shutdown ends, USDA will be ready with a significant program.
In related matters, the Senate Ag Committee Chair says tariff-funded programs allow money to be diverted to help farmers. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) says Section 32 remains a viable source of aid, even if the Supreme Court strikes down past tariffs. The account receives a portion of US tariff receipts, with some money going to USDA for farm assistance. The Supreme Court will fast-track a challenge to the President’s tariffs in November.
