In preparation for the 2023 Farm Bill, Kansas Representative Tracey Mann is sharing the importance of the legislation each week on the House floor.
The Farm Bill has 12 titles ranging from commodities to nutrition, energy, and rural development. Republican Congressman Tracey Mann says crop insurance is one of the most important pieces.
“Crop Insurance help producers manage the risk that they face every day from weather, pests, disease, and market volatility. It has also been one of our nation’s best public private partnership programs between the government, private industry and agriculture producers. Crop Insurance does two things it benefits farmers and it benefits Americans. Crop Insurance never replaces a good crop but it lets producers stay in the game of disaster strikes and it helps to ensure that our country continues to be the most food secure nation in the world.”
He shared a story of a Kansas farmer who said the weather and the global market were two of his biggest challenges, which is why Representative Mann prioritized disaster assistance in another Farm Bill floor speech.
“The Livestock Indemnity Program and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock Honeybees and Farm Raised Fish provide benefits to producers from livestock deaths caused by disease and adverse weather. A veterinarian from Ashland, Kansas told me that during the Starbuck fire back in 2017, to which he was an emergency responder, Clark County, Kansas alone lost 6000 to 9000 head of cattle right at the beginning of calving season. One producer suffered $1.8 million in cattle losses during this disaster.”
He also talked trade measures that can support producers and develop global markets.
“Through the Market Access Program, or MAP, US agriculture trade associations, cooperatives, state regional trade groups, and small businesses cooperate to share the cost of overseas marketing and promotional activities. MAP reaches virtually every corner of the globe, helping build markets for a wide variety of us farm and food products, including the dairy, wheat, grain, beef, soybean and sunflowers that come from my district.”
Representative Mann also called on Congress to embrace energy independence by enforcing the Renewable Fuels Act and supporting biofuels in the next Farm Bill.
“The Rural Energy For America Program provides financial assistance to promote energy independence and efficiency in renewable energy development for ag producers and rural small businesses. Kansas Ethanol LLC based in Lyons, Kansas has utilized the REAP program twice. The first time they used it they were able to expand their facility and went for producing 65 million gallons of ethanol, two 80 million gallons of ethanol per year.”
He also highlighted the Biodiesel Fuel Education Grant Program and the Biomass Crop Assistance Program which helps producers get involved in renewable energy production.
Representative Mann plans to continue holding his farm bill impact series each week when the house is in session.
Related:
NASDA’s 2023 Farm Bill Priorities
Kansas Representative Tracey Mann Considers Food and Energy Independence A National Security Matter
