[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 94 (Wednesday, June 5, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3233-S3234]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                            Economic Growth

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, our economy has made tremendous strides 
over the past 2 years. Americans on the whole have access to more jobs, 
higher wages, and more opportunities. Unfortunately, our Nation's 
agricultural economy is trailing behind the broader economy.
  A combination of low commodity prices, protracted trade disputes, and 
natural disasters and weather-related issues have left many farmers and 
ranchers struggling. Nationwide, net farm income is about half of what 
it was in 2013--half.
  In my home State of South Dakota, farmers and ranchers are currently 
facing the fallout from severe winter storms, heavy rainfall, bomb 
cyclones, and spring flooding. Less than half of this year's acreage 
intended for corn has been planted. Compare that to this time last 
year, when 96 percent of our State's corn was in the ground and 
growing. Today, just 14 percent of South Dakota's soybeans have been 
planted, compared to 83 percent this time last year. To make matters 
worse, for many farmers, this year's planting season is already over, 
as their land is completely flooded and will not dry out in time for 
anything to be planted. Other States that produce the bulk of our 
country's corn and soybeans are facing similar planting challenges.
  There have been some recent wins for farmers and ranchers. The 
administration's announcement that it is lifting the ban on the year-
round sale of E15--15 percent ethanol-blended fuel--is great news for 
corn producers in South Dakota and around the Nation. It is a big win 
for consumers, too, who will have access to this cleaner, lower cost 
fuel during the summer driving season for the first time. I have spent 
nearly my entire time in the Senate advocating for higher blends of 
ethanol, and I am pleased the Trump administration has followed through 
on its commitment to address this issue.
  Another recent win was Japan's announcement that it was lifting age 
limits on U.S. beef imports, giving America's ranchers full access to 
the Japanese market. CNBC reports that the U.S. Meat Export Federation 
predicts that Japan's move could increase U.S. beef sales to Japan by 
$150 million to $200 million per year.
  While these victories are important, there is a lot more work to be 
done to get our Nation's farmers and ranchers back on their feet. I 
hear regularly from South Dakota ag producers about the challenges they 
are facing, and I constantly share their concerns with

[[Page S3234]]

the administration, whether I am meeting with the President or other 
officials.
  One of the biggest things we can do for our Nation's farmers and 
ranchers is secure trade deals that will open new markets for American 
agricultural products.
  I support the President's efforts to secure more favorable treatment 
for American products and his determination to ensure that China honors 
the trade commitments it has made, but I believe we need to wrap up 
negotiations on these various agreements we are discussing as quickly 
as possible. Along with increased market access, farmers and ranchers 
need certainty about what international markets are going to look like.
  I am committed to doing everything I can to advance trade agreements 
with Japan and with the European Union. I am also doing everything I 
can to move the United States-Mexico-Canada free-trade agreement 
through Congress in the near future. This agreement would benefit 
American agriculture, create jobs, and grow our economy, and we should 
pass it as soon as possible. We should be wary of any action that might 
jeopardize this trade agreement and the markets it will open for our 
producers.
  Another issue of concern to farmers and ranchers is the 
implementation of the 2018 farm bill. Getting a pro-agriculture, pro-
farmer bill to the President was one of my top priorities last year, 
and I am proud of the bill we delivered.
  I took ideas and suggestions from South Dakota farmers and ranchers 
and developed more than 40 proposals aimed at making life better for 
American agricultural producers. Nearly 20 of my proposals were 
included in the final bill, including my new short-term, soil-building 
conservation program for farmers who don't want to tie up ground for 10 
years or more in the Conservation Reserve Program.
  Now that the farm bill is law, we have to make sure that it is 
implemented in a timely manner and as Congress intended. I have spent 
years pushing for an increase in the Conservation Reserve Program's 
acreage cap, and we finally got a substantial increase in last year's 
bill.
  The Department of Agriculture needs to expedite both general and 
continual CRP signups to allow farmers to take full advantage of that 
cap increase. I have been strongly urging the Department to make sure 
that farmers can sign up in a timely manner. Taking millions of acres 
of environmentally sensitive land out of crop production in the next 
year could have a big impact on the farm economy by driving up 
commodity prices and increasing farmers' profits, but in order for this 
to happen, we need to make sure that farmers can get their least 
productive land enrolled in the CRP program and out of crop production 
by next year.
  South Dakota farmers and ranchers are the lifeblood of our State, and 
I am committed to doing everything I can to address their needs here in 
Washington. In addition to working on trade issues and farm bill 
implementation, I am working with the Department of Agriculture's Risk 
Management Agency to ensure that our farmers are treated fairly under 
crop insurance prevent plant and cover crop rules.
  I have been working with the Agriculture Department to make certain 
the recently announced second round of Market Facilitation Program 
payments do not affect this year's planting decisions. I have also 
requested that this second round of MFP payments provide equitable 
assistance to all producers, especially those with failed and damaged 
crops or who were prevented from planting this year's crops due to 
adverse weather.
  And, as I said, I will continue to push for trade agreements with 
China and other countries so that our Nation's farmers receive a check 
from the sale of their products overseas instead of from the Department 
of Agriculture.
  I also recently led a letter to the President in support of Governor 
Noem's request for a major disaster declaration in South Dakota, and 2 
weeks ago I voted in favor of the Additional Supplemental 
Appropriations Act, which would provide additional disaster funding for 
States and Territories harmed by last year's hurricanes and wildfires 
and this year's flooding. The bill also includes $3 billion to provide 
assistance for farmers' crop losses from the 2018 and 2019 natural 
disasters.
  Our Nation's farmers and ranchers have a tough, backbreaking job. 
Instead of air-conditioned and heated offices, they labor in the hot 
Sun, the cold rain, and the snow. They start their days before the Sun 
rises and often end them long after the Sun falls. Most Americans never 
think about the blood, sweat, and tears that have gone into that loaf 
of bread or that gallon of milk that they grab off the grocery store 
shelf, but we are all the beneficiaries of the hard work and the 
dedication of our Nation's farmers and ranchers. It is an honor to 
represent so many of these hard-working people here in the Senate.
  To South Dakota's farmers and ranchers, I want to say I hear you. I 
know that things have been incredibly tough for you all over the past 
few years. I know that you are fighting through a lot of challenges, 
and I am committed to making sure that Washington addresses your 
priorities, and I will do everything that I can to make sure that you 
have access to the support and the resources you need to continue 
feeding our Nation and the world.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.