U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) welcomed Arkansas farmers to share their perspectives on the agricultural economy during a Senate hearing examining the challenges facing rural communities
Marianna farmer Nathan Reed and Newport farmer Jennifer James detailed the difficulties they are experiencing in the industry.
“The last couple years have been the most difficult of my life. Despite record yields, my operation has endured steep losses due to a sharp increase in input costs and low commodity prices,” Reed told committee members.
Reed and his wife along with their four children grow cotton, rice, corn and soybeans. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the National Cotton Council and is an executive officer of the Arkansas Ag Council as well as a member of the Arkansas Plant Board.
He expressed appreciation for the natural disaster and market assistance funds provided by Congress late last year but called for an improved farm bill to prevent farms from failing throughout rural America.
James grows rice, corn and soybeans with her husband, father and son. She is an active member of USA Rice in addition to serving on the Farmers Board of Directors and the Farm Policy Task Force. Her many accolades include the 2019 USA Rice Farmer of the Year, the first-ever woman elected to serve on the Riceland Board of Directors, and 2023-24 Outstanding Alumna at the University of Arkansas Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.
“Last year, I completed my 30th full-time crop. I can say without a doubt that it was the most difficult year financially that we have endured so far. This year, I’m even more worried about what is to come. Just last week, my husband, dad, son and I sat down to have one of the hardest business conversations we’ve ever had to have – is it worth it? What scares me is I know we’re one farm family of thousands having these same conversations,” James said in her testimony.
James called on Congress to pass a new, stronger farm bill to help improve the financial outlook for agricultural producers.
In December, Boozman led Senate efforts to secure market assistance for the agriculture community and remains committed to delivering the certainty and predictability farmers, ranchers and producers need in an updated farm bill.
“My highest priority for the next farm bill is to improve the farm safety net, whereby every farmer in every region of the country will have access to modernized risk management tools regardless of the commodity they grow. If we fail to modernize the safety net, agriculture will see further consolidation as farm families leave the business, and the ripple effects to our country will be profound,” Boozman said in his opening statement.
Source : senate.gov