Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas recently completed a 5,600-mile tour of his state, meeting with constituents to discuss the bleak state of the agriculture economy. He has called on Congress to extend the 2018 Farm Bill for at least another year and provide emergency funding to address issues such as drought, rising production costs, and falling crop prices.
Moran emphasized that simply extending the current Farm Bill would not be enough to support farmers in need. He has offered to work with both Republicans and Democrats to find a solution that benefits rural and urban communities alike.
Disagreements over food and agriculture spending have stalled progress on a new Farm Bill. Issues such as cutting funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and determining trigger mechanisms for crop subsidy payments continue to be contentious.
Moran highlighted the dire financial situation facing farmers, with net farm income expected to decrease by 27% this year and the agricultural trade deficit reaching $42.5 billion. He stressed that the current status quo is unsustainable and called for urgent action to support American farmers.
The Farm Bill plays a crucial role in supporting ranchers and farmers, as well as influencing other sectors such as banking, equipment manufacturing, conservation, food security, and energy. Moran’s efforts to secure funding and support for farmers aim to provide stability and prosperity for the agriculture industry in the years to come.
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