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House Ag Committee considers ag challenges ahead of farm bill

The House Agriculture Committee is taking a closer look at the challenges farmers face in production agriculture ahead of 2023 Farm Bill discussions.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said the farm safety net title of the farm bill needs more money.

“It’s time to broaden the baseline, because those targets we use and the commodity programs and costs that we have to grow a crop are nowhere near where they were when the targets were set.”

During opening remarks, Chairman Glenn “G.T.” Thompson said input costs are on the rise.

“The average costs of diesel fuel per gallon increased 95% from 2020 to 2022. Fertilizer inputs increased 125% in 2021 and an additional 30% in the first five months of 2022.”

Right to repair, a lack of market competition and regulations also got attention at the hearing. Minnesota Representative Brad Finstad asked ag retailer Michael Twining about EPA not following science in their decision to ban products, including chlorpyrifos.

“When we take tools away from our farmers, we deny them not only an option to more efficiently produce food, we raise food costs for every American.”

Thompson said the House Ag Committee will work to create a farm bill that addresses challenges farmers face.