Louisiana farms are facing another year of losses in 2024, according to the LSU AgCenter. Those losses would continue in 2025 if Congress does not pass a new Farm Bill this year.
Ag Economist Michael Deliberto, Ph.D. calculated with current commodity prices, production costs and price supports, a 1,500-acre farm would end 2024 with $306,097.50 in losses. A 2,000-acre farm would fare considerably worse with a balance sheet ending in 2024 with $564,482.50 in losses.
Read MoreYesterday marked the expiration of the one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill, leaving farmers and ranchers anxious about whether Congress can secure a new, five-year reauthorization. Despite Congress giving themselves a full extra year to craft and pass a new farm bill, inaction remains the status quo in the halls of Congress.
Read MoreOver the last two weeks, row crop producers descended on the nation’s capital, lobbying for passage of a new farm bill and highlighting the need for ad hoc disaster assistance.
If you do not personally live with the constant barrage of challenges facing our nation’s farmers and ranchers – ranging from droughts, wildfires, and hurricanes to inflation and market collapses – it’s easy to grow numb to their plight. Besides, aren’t farmers and ranchers always on Capitol Hill asking for assistance?
Read MoreU.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, called for Congress and the administration to provide a “timely and urgent response” to the looming farm crisis in the form of emergency assistance to farmers and called for a redoubling of efforts to pass a farm bill before the end of the calendar year in a speech on the Senate floor.
On emergency assistance, Boozman said, “Farmers across the country need a bridge to help their family farms survive into next year. We’ve seen previous ad-hoc assistance programs established in a period of weeks, as demonstrated by then Secretary [Sonny] Perdue when the COVID-19 pandemic created disruptions for producers. That level of timely and urgent response by Congress and the administration is once again warranted.”
Read MoreWith elections looming, the Congressional calendar is tight. Right now, Congress is locked in a funding battle. Emily Buckman, director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, says the deadline is quickly approaching.
Read MoreMore than 300 ag groups are calling on Congress to pass a Farm Bill before year’s end, underscoring the need for a stronger safety net as farmers cope with a number of market hurdles.
Kenny Hartman with the National Corn Growers Association spoke with RFD-TV’s own Tammi Arender on the need for an updated bill, if an extension will pass by the end of the year, and the importance of a strong ag safety net.
Read MoreUSA Rice, all state rice organizations, and nearly 300 other agricultural groups sent a letter to Congressional leaders: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) calling for action on a meaningful Farm Bill reauthorization before the end of the year.
Read MoreAmerican Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented on USDA’s net farm income data, which shows a 23% drop in on-farm income since 2022.
"The drop in net farm income is not just an economic hiccup, it’s evidence of an agricultural downturn. High inflation, severe weather and plummeting crop prices should serve as a wake-up call for Congress to finally step up and do the right thing by modernizing the farm bill.
Read MoreRegardless of whether or not you’ve ever set foot on a farm, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act would impact you.
The Farm, Food and National Security Act is the U.S. House of Representatives’ version of the Farm Bill. It is a key piece of legislation that has the potential to affect an array of agricultural and food policies.
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