Louisiana Farm Bureau President Urges Swift Passage of Farm Programs in "One Big Beautiful Bill Act"

Louisiana Farm Bureau President Richard Fontenot today issued the following statement in support of essential farm programs included in H.R. 1, the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" and the Senate Ag Committee’s budget reconciliation language.

“Every issue is a local issue. The debate over the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ may be happening in Washington, D.C., but we’re hearing from farmers, ranchers and bankers in Louisiana who say we’re going to have fewer people in agriculture if Congress does not act soon.

“The Budget Reconciliation process and markups we’ve seen from both the House and Senate Ag Committees are encouraging. Both, contains much-needed updates to reference prices we hoped to see in a new Farm Bill. If those updated prices are not in place soon, more farmers and ranchers will not be able to secure loans from their lenders and will be going even deeper into debt, or worse being forced to go out of business. I’m talking about multi-generational family farms that will no longer exist because they do not have enough income to pay back the debt they already owe. That is how critical these farm safety net improvements have become.

“We’ve heard farmers’ needs being recognized by President Trump, as well as members of Congress. Farmers are very grateful to be acknowledge and heard. But. now we need recognition to result in investment..

“I urge our Senators and Representatives and all the others to come together and protect agriculture. Food security is national security, and without the agricultural provisions included in the Big Beautiful Bill, the future of Louisiana agriculture is anything but secure.”