Senators Marshall and Bennet Hold Bipartisan Field Hearing on the High Plains

Burlington, CO – U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. and Michael Bennet (D-CO) held a field hearing today on the high plains regarding the historic drought impacting farmers and ranchers across Kansas and Colorado. 

The Senators, who lead the Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Climate, Forestry, and Natural Resources, discussed innovative solutions to the drought with experts in agriculture, conservation and policy from Kansas and Colorado. 

 “Colorado and Kansas share much more than a border. For about ten of the last fifteen years, we’ve shared this drought – and I believe that water will be the defining issue of our states for not just the near future, but for generations ahead,” said Marshall. “Farmers and ranchers need federal assistance to maintain their livelihoods and to produce our nation’s food supply, but they need more flexibility. Unfortunately, bureaucracy in DC sometimes delays the process. I’m confident that we’ll come out of today’s field hearings with innovative solutions for farmers and ranchers in our corner of the country and beyond.”

“Today’s farmers and ranchers face a 1,200-year drought, a changing climate, and a future that  keeps getting hotter and drier. Yet America’s agriculture conservation programs haven’t kept pace with a West that looks very different from the Dust Bowl era,” said Bennet. “I was grateful to hear today from experts, producers, and partners concerned for rural America’s future. America’s farmers need our agriculture conservation programs to be much more flexible and allow for innovation because the future of rural America depends on whether the next generation decides to continue operating their family farms and ranches.”

You may click HERE or on the image above to watch the full playback of the field hearing. The hearing begins at 30:06.

Photos, B-Roll Video HERE

Highlights from Senator Marshall’s opening remarks include: 

“There’s no one more committed to leaving this world cleaner, healthier, and safer than we found it than the two of us. And it’s in our heart, it’s in our soul, this is a priority. As we think about future generations, why we’re in the Senate and came to Congress. This would be one of my three things that I’d like to leave a mark on before we leave.” 

“For 10 of the last 15 years, we have shared this drought…I believe that water will be the defining issue of our states for not just the near future, but for generations ahead. And not just for agriculture, but for municipalities as well. This is the defining issue…it is the most valuable commodity that our nation is blessed with.”

“There’s been a great public-private partnership between agriculture producers and the federal government, and we’ve created the strongest food system in the world…we’re so blessed that we’re not dependent on other countries to feed us, but many countries are dependent upon us to feed them.” 

“Our farmers and ranchers want to do the right thing, but we need some flexibility. These environmental practices were designed to cut carbon emissions, yet they cut out some of our countries’ highest producing crop regions, and our nation’s second-largest carbon sink: soil.”

“We’ve seen national disasters, drought, and wildfire. Farmers and ranchers need federal assistance to maintain their livelihoods and continue producing our nation’s food supply. Unfortunately, the bureaucracy sometimes in DC delays the process, and we owe it to our producers to set up and improve and implement safety net mechanisms.” 

“Since I was a little kid raised on a farm, riding on a tractor, my grandparents spent time teaching me how important it was to leave our farm better for the next generation, and that’s why I’ve said our farmers and ranchers are the original conservationists.”

“Today we’ll explore the best ways to support them amidst prolonged drought, as the federal government – whether it’s through improving conservation flexibilities, developing research opportunities, or expanding disaster relief funding – I’m confident we’ll come out of today’s field hearing with innovative solutions for our farmers and ranchers in our corner of the country and beyond.” 

During the hearing, the senators heard from Colorado and Kansas producers who are on the frontlines of a hotter, drier future, facing historic drought. Farmers and ranchers are a critical part of the solution; they help conserve water while producing food to feed the world. Highlights include: 

Ms. Constance C. Owen, Director, Kansas Water Office: “In Kansas, the economic driver for most of the state is agriculture, including crops and livestock. Without adequate water, the domino effect of drought can cripple a local, regional, and statewide economy. With large scale crop failures due to drought, the lost income stream is felt down the supply chain, from seed sellers to equipment repair shops, to grocery stores and local retailers. Predictably, the impact can lead to higher food prices and food scarcity. Ultimately, severe and extended drought conditions can threaten national security interests.” 

Mr. Christopher A. Redmond, Assistant Meteorologist and Kansas Mesonet Manager, Department of Agronomy at Kansas State University: “The climate of the High Plains can support excellent crops. Unfortunately, they can also bring devastation to agriculture; sometimes an event spanning several minutes can erase months of hard work. Drought and floods are typical for the region. These tend to offset one another over a span of several years with no one year typically reaching ‘normal.’ Of these weather fluctuations that frequent the High Plains, drought is often the most impactful.”

“With the changing landscape of weather observations and building drought concerns amidst a dynamic climate, evaluating drought conditions is critical to producer success in the High Plains. While some improvements have occurred over the last year, drought will continue to challenge producers in 2024 and beyond. Therefore, decision makers will rely heavily on data provided from these Mesonets to assist with irrigation planning, understanding crop stress, soil moisture availability, fire weather risk and ground truthing for resulting loss insurance payouts of both crops and livestock.”

Mr. Earl D. Lewis Jr, Chief Engineer and Director of Water Resources, Kansas Department of Agriculture: “The reduction in precipitation during drought results in producers pumping more water for irrigation to ensure a reliable food and fiber supply. The correlation is clear that as we have more and longer droughts, the amount of water pumped from the Ogallala Aquifer increases as do the related water level declines. The Ogallala is not an inexhaustible supply as many of the early users believed that it would be…There are many localized areas where the aquifer is effectively dewatered to the point that it is no longer useful for agriculture.”

“Addressing the impact of droughts across the high plains takes commitment at all levels of government as well as individual citizens. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is a key partner in that effort and has provided valuable resources and leadership for decades. Building on that history and continuing to improve the research, programs, and outreach will help to ensure viable communities and economy across the region.”

Mr. Patrick Milan Janssen, President, Kansas Water PACK: “Wheat receipts at our local coop have been 50-60% of normal for the last three years. Effective crop insurance programs are critical to keeping farms viable in years of extended drought. They will not make a producer rich, but they will keep them in business. Affordable crop insurance is a must have in today’s challenging environment.”

“We have the people, the science, and the vision to do a better job for the world we live in. I encourage more input from the producers who have worked this land for generations, more program flexibility, and a culture of cooperation rather than one of administration.”

Mr. Jeff Sternberger, Owner and General Manager, Midwest Feeders Inc.: “The investments we have made have allowed us to use water more efficiently. That’s essential to the long-term viability of our operation. Our viability also is dependent on the forage and grains produced by farmers in our area…We believe there is potential to use a WCA (water conservation area) to realize water conservation while still providing the revenue necessary for the farming operation and growing the forage and grains we need in our cattle feeding operation.”

“From a policy standpoint, support from the federal level would accelerate investment across cattle feeding, dairy production, and farming. I suggest you consider cost share programs and tax credits as options that would support investment in technologies that provide water savings. The upcoming farm bill discussion would be an opportunity to expand conservation programs to include these types of investments.”

Mrs. Amy France, Vice Chair, National Sorghum Producers: “Many farmers throughout the High Plains have had the luxury of using the region’s aquifer as a resource to irrigate their crops. Unfortunately, the Ogallala Aquifer is on an unsustainable trajectory due to over-appropriation and prolonged drought conditions. However, conservation practices, collaborative partnerships, and resource conserving crop rotations are helping to preserve this critical water resource for agricultural, industrial and municipal needs.”

“Farmers are tasked with the difficult challenge of feeding the world. Our livelihood, as well as those generations who follow us, are absolutely dependent on a stable water supply. Mr. Chairman, we can do this by adapting new technologies, improving practices and policies, and harnessing the inherent attributes of drought resilient crops like sorghum.”