Senator John Thune on the Urgency of a Bipartisan Farm Bill

The Critical Role of Agriculture

• 🇺🇸 Agriculture is described as the lifeblood of the country, impacting everything from food to fuel to fiber.
• 👨‍🌾 Farmers and ranchers face a difficult life filled with uncertainty, including storms, drought, market volatility, and processing challenges.

Current Challenges for Farmers

• 📉 Recent years have been particularly tough, with farmers facing declining commodity prices, higher input costs, and increased interest rates.
• 💸 Projections indicate that in 2025, farmers will plant one of the most expensive crops ever, leading to potential serious financial losses.
• 🆘 Congress has approved relief funding, and programs like the emergency commodity assistance are available, but these are temporary measures.

The Need for an Updated Farm Bill

• 🏛️ A full and updated farm bill is a priority for Senate Republicans and the Trump Administration.
• 🤝 Senator Thune hopes for bipartisan cooperation to deliver essential legislation that provides certainty for farmers and ranchers.
• 📝 Key areas for inclusion in the farm bill are strengthening the farm safety net, stable biofuels policy (including year-round E15 access), and eliminating the death tax.

Senator Thune's Commitment

• 🎯 This will be Senator Thune's fifth farm bill, and he is committed to ensuring farmers have the resources needed for current and future challenges.
• 🌍 The work of farmers and ranchers is vital for feeding not only the country but the world.