On Thursday, a group of 140 House Republicans sent a letter to their party leadership urging passage of a farm bill in the lame duck session in November and December. The letter came as lawmakers were leaving Washington until after the November election without having acted to extend the current farm bill, which expires Sept. 30.

“Farmers and ranchers do not have the luxury of waiting until next Congress for the enactment of an effective farm bill,” the letter said. “Inflation has driven production costs to the highest on record, meanwhile commodity prices across the board have fallen precipitously, creating a severe margin squeeze on farm and ranch families… Farm debt, $540 billion, is the highest ever, both nominally and when adjusted for inflation. These factors show no signs of abating for all major commodities.”

The group, led by Reps. Mark Alford (R-Mo.), Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa), Mary Miller (R-Ill.) and Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), highlighted the problems in the farm economy that need to be addressed.

“We are honored to stand alongside 139 of my colleagues to lead a letter that shows House leadership that Republicans are committed to passing a Farm Bill that supports our nation’s constituents, farmers, ranchers, and rural communities,” said Alford. “We passed H.R. 8467 out of committee, and now it is time to give it to America. The stakes are high; production costs are up, and farm income is declining. We don’t need an extension, and we don’t need this next year–we need this Farm Bill now. Our producers are worthy of certainty and support for their tireless work in feeding, fueling, and clothing the world.”

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The signatories of the letter represent about 70% of the House Republican Conference. According to numerous reports, Congressional agricultural leaders have restarted negotiations for a new bill over the past two weeks and are considering options to vote on a measure in the lame duck session. 

Ag groups urge Biden to prevent looming port strike

A coalition of 56 industry groups is urging President Biden to take action to avert a potential port strike along the East Coast and Gulf Coast beginning Sept. 30. Approximately 40% of containerized U.S. agricultural exports flow through these ports, which could be completely shut down unless an agreement is reached.

“If port operations are stopped, the impact on the ag supply chain will quickly reverberate throughout agriculture and not only slow or shutdown operations, but also potentially lower farmgate prices,” the groups said in a Wednesday letter to Biden. “To prevent a disruption to port operations along the East and Gulf Coasts, we request for your administration to act before a lockout or strike occurs to prevent damage to U.S. agriculture and the economy.”

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The plea was made by a broad coalition of agricultural commodities groups and industry associations, including the National Grain and Feed Association, American Soybean Association, U.S. Meat Export Federation and others. Current negotiations over the labor contract are deadlocked, with union members reportedly seeking wage increases of at least one-third. Biden has not yet indicated whether he will intervene in the dispute. An analysis by the American Farm Bureau Federation found that the affected ports handle a collective total of $1.4 billion in agricultural products each week.

USDA launches initiative to help distressed farm and ranch borrowers

USDA is launching an effort called the Distressed Borrowers Assistance Network, a new initiative designed to help financially distressed farmers and ranchers stabilize their finances. The network will provide personalized support through partnerships with organizations like Farm Aid and the University of Arkansas. The goal is to connect farmers with experts in agricultural finance to help them navigate their financial challenges and regain stability.

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“I started my off-ranch career as a Farm Advocate, working hand-in-hand with other tireless farmer advocates,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “Having someone with experiences in ag finance help producers work through financial difficulties can be the difference between them losing the farm or prospering.”

The Distressed Borrowers Assistance Network will offer one-on-one support to borrowers, addressing both immediate financial needs and long-term solutions. By helping borrowers regain their financial footing, the program aims to position them for future opportunities in the agricultural sector. USDA views this new network of service providers as a long-term benefit for rural communities, ensuring better access to financing and support for years to come.