After failing to pass a Farm Bill in 2023 in time for its five-year expiration, lawmakers in Washington are making progress toward one in 2024. In May, the Republican-led U.S. House Agriculture Committee approved a package allocating $1.5 trillion to address a wide range of needs of American farmers.
U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, told reporters on Wednesday those needs are overdue, and a new Farm Bill is imperative.
The 2018 Farm Bill, signed into law by President Trump, was the last comprehensive agricultural spending package passed by Congress. However, the bill faces mounting opposition from Democrats.
“Our farmers are in trouble. We’re gonna lose a lot of farmers after this year if Joe Biden and his EPA and group of American thugs that are on top of our farmers don’t get out of their way and allow them to grow a crop,” said Tuberville (R-Auburn). “We are losing farmers. We lost 150,000 farmers in the last three or four years. Think about that. 150,000 folks. Food doesn’t grow out the back door of a Walmart.”
“We have to grow it and it has to be done the right way. I’m proud of our farmers. We got a lot of great wins in this bill that will actually help our farmers for the first time.”
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If the legislation does pass the House, Tuberville said its fate in the Senate is grim.
“Things are so partisan over here on the Senate side so we shouldn’t be jumping up and down because it still has to go through the Senate,” he cautioned. “This bill is in the right direction. Hopefully we can get some spark underneath the Democrats over here in the Senate but let me tell you, they have stacked their bats and circled the wagons. They don’t want to do anything for the rest of the year. They are pretty much going home.”
Tuberville also noted some of the provisions found in the proposed farm bill and explained what they might accomplish.
“The House version will increase reference prices. Meaning prices on Title One crops will go up 10 to 20%. They (farmers) need that. They need that extra money because it is costing an arm and leg to grow a crop. These efforts, they’ll help bolster the farm safety net to help farmers through prices that are rising at an unbelievable rate because of Joe Biden. Inflation is growing higher and higher.”
RELATED: Alabama’s food, agriculture sector provides $51.2 billion economic impact, more than 334,548 jobs
“It also allocates money to help farmers combat feral swine. We have hogs that are over running the state of Alabama. I’ve seen that personally. One thing I’m especially proud of in the house farm bill language is the Farmers Market Expansion Act legislation to make pecans and other tree nuts eligible for the USDA Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program. That is a big move. So we’re glad that’s in there.”
Tuberville said he’ll continue his work and support for all American producers.
“Farmers, we are going to take care of you. We’re going to get you a farm bill that’s going to make a difference in your lives, your family’s lives, and farmers all across the country.”
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
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