Farmers, Ranchers, Foresters, and Consumers Deserve Certainty

Floor Speech

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Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me for this evening's Special Order.

I would like to emphasize the importance of passing an updated farm bill that supports our agriculture industry by strengthening the farm safety net, bolsters rural economies, and meets the growing food security and affordability difficulties that are impacting American families.

Mr. Speaker, agriculture and food-related industries are responsible for almost $1.4 trillion of the United States gross domestic product, yet American farmers--specifically farmers in my district--face daunting challenges in providing a stable and affordable food supply to our Nation.

In Ohio, I have heard farmers' and ranchers' concerns about continued inflationary pressures, regulatory hurdles, limited trade markets, animal health, and a broad range of other issues.

Through the House Agricultural Committee's busy schedule over the past 16 months, I have seen the importance of policies that keep the farm safety net strong, incentivize conservation, encourage innovative research initiatives, support specialty crops, allow farmers to grow our energy resources, and much more.

Mr. Speaker, the United States Department of Agriculture recently reported that our Nation has lost over 140,000 farms in the last 5 years. This is unsustainable. The USDA's most recent Farm Income Forecast reflects the urgent need to act. The report anticipates a 25 percent decrease in farm income from 2023 to 2024, one of the largest year-to-year dollar reductions in net farm income on record.

Failure to pass an updated farm bill could exacerbate these already growing problems and have a devastating impact on our economy and food supply chains.

The United States food and agricultural sector has an economic output of over $8.6 trillion and cannot afford to wait. I hope that my colleagues will recognize the magnitude of these issues and help us to pass a sound farm bill quick.

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