[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 28, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1021-S1022]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                               Farm Bill

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, America needs farmers and ranchers. We need 
the men and women--and often entire families--who are willing to do the 
hard work to feed our country and the world. In places like my home 
State of South Dakota, farming and ranching are just part of our way of 
life.
  But this important work involves a great deal of risk. Few jobs, for 
example, are as subject to the whims of the weather and fluctuations of 
the market. So, for almost 100 years, Congress has regularly passed a 
farm bill to back agriculture producers with programs and policies that 
mitigate risk and help them to keep going through the tough times.
  And with the 2018 farm bill expiring last year, Congress needs to 
take up this important task once again. And while I am glad Congress 
passed an extension of critical farm bill programs through the 2024 
growing season, a temporary extension is no substitute for a full, 
updated bill.
  I have been able to help craft four farm bills during my time in 
Congress, and, for me, the process always begins and ends with farmers 
and ranchers. In

[[Page S1022]]

addition to my regular discussions with farmers and ranchers as I 
travel around our State, I have held a number of roundtable discussions 
across South Dakota, focused on the next farm bill, to receive direct 
input from our State's agriculture producers, and most of my priorities 
for the farm bill come directly from the conversations that I have had.
  One thing I consistently hear from farmers and ranchers is the 
importance of a farm safety net. Crop insurance, commodity, and 
livestock programs play a critical role in helping producers manage 
risk in their operations.
  Crop insurance is the cornerstone of the safety net, and we need to 
strengthen it wherever possible in the next farm bill. And while crop 
insurance has historically supported row crop production, I am pleased 
with the progress we have made in recent years to improve and expand 
insurance options for livestock producers.
  But commodity programs like Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss 
Coverage need to be improved so that they sufficiently mitigate 
producers' losses. And livestock programs like the Livestock Forage 
Disaster Program and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock Program 
need to be modified to improve the assistance that they provide and 
make them workable for producers.
  So one of my top priorities for the next farm bill is improving 
commodity and livestock programs so they provide the support that 
farmers and ranchers need during tough times.
  As I said, while I am glad we have extended key provisions of the 
2018 farm bill through this growing season, we are overdue for a full, 
updated, multiyear farm bill, and Republicans on the Agriculture 
Committee are ready to get to drafting a bill.
  I am disappointed, however, that some of my Democrat colleagues don't 
seem to share our sense of urgency.
  The Biden administration and congressional Democrats have put funding 
their climate and nutrition priorities ahead of helping farmers and 
ranchers, which has stalled what has traditionally been--traditionally 
been--a bipartisan farm bill process.
  With an expected $1.5 trillion pricetag for the next farm bill--
thanks in part to the Biden USDA's SNAP Thrifty Food Plan update, which 
is expected, by the way, to cost more than a quarter of a trillion 
dollars over the next 10 years--there needs to be some give and take 
when it comes to meaningfully funding the farm safety net and other 
components of the farm bill.
  Since the last farm bill passed in 2018, farmers and ranchers have 
faced a number of challenges. Inflation has driven up farm production 
expenses by $100 billion since the last farm bill. USDA is forecasting 
another decrease in net farm income this year, following last year's 
drop. And farm input costs are projected to stay near record highs this 
year.
  The Biden administration's failure to promote trade and new market 
access opportunities will continue to negatively impact farmers and 
ranchers in their bottom lines. This year, the United States is on 
track to post a record-high agriculture trade deficit, and recent 
disruptions to shipping in the Middle East could have impacts on global 
markets that negatively affect American farms and ranches.
  Our focus needs to be on helping farmers deal with these challenges. 
Simply put, we need to put more farm in the farm bill, and we need to 
get moving now.
  America's farmers and ranchers can't afford more unnecessary delays 
or partisan exercises. It is time to get the farm bill done and done 
right.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Hickenlooper). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.