Farm Bureau appeals for farmer support

CR funding must address farmer needs

The American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall has appealed to Congress to stand with farmers and ranchers in the ongoing Continuing Resolution (CR) funding debate. In his letter, Duvall outlined critical measures to help the agricultural sector navigate its current challenges.

Key requests include -

• Extending the farm bill to continue essential agricultural programs.

• Providing aid for communities devastated by weather-related disasters in 2023 and 2024.

• Offering economic relief to farmers facing skyrocketing operational costs.

• Allowing year-round E-15 fuel sales to boost agricultural markets.

Highlighting the economic hardships, Duvall noted, “Inflation is killing farm families’ checkbooks. Stubbornly high supply costs and declining crop prices have created a perfect storm for financial losses.”

Natural disasters have left many farming communities in ruins, and farmers are now in their third year of losses. With lenders reducing or denying operating loans, many families are at risk of losing their livelihoods.

The statistics are alarming, with 141,000 farms lost in just five years. Without immediate intervention, this trend is expected to worsen.

The Farm Bureau has called on Congress to address these critical issues, ensuring the survival of farms and the stability of American agriculture. As the CR debate continues, farmers and ranchers await decisive action from policymakers to safeguard their futures.