The Hill News

Anyone who has spent much time on a farm or ranch knows that America’s producers are problem solvers. Growing and raising the nation’s food supply rarely happens under perfect conditions, and success depends on a producer’s ability to persevere and adapt to conditions on the ground.  

Likewise, reauthorization of the Farm Bill is occurring during difficult fiscal times. I firmly believe Congress can and should pass a Farm Bill this year, but Congress needs, just like our farmers and ranchers, to roll up its sleeves and deliver a farm safety net that allows our farmers to continue providing our nation’s families with the lowest cost, highest quality food supply in the world.

As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I urge all Americans to take a closer look at what our farm policies accomplish and what they really cost. Farm programs represent less than one quarter of one percent of federal spending, and yet for that small fraction of th! e federal budget, the American people get a stable, safe, and affordable food supply. In fact, Americans spend just 9.5 percent of their income on food, less than any other country. In addition, agriculture employs about 14 percent of the U.S. workforce, and agriculture exports generate about 600,000 jobs in the non-farm sector alone. 

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