What They Are Saying: Kansas Agriculture Supports Senate Republicans’ Farm Bill Framework

Washington, D.C. – Senate Agriculture Committee Republicans have delivered a framework that puts the ‘farm’ back in the Farm Bill. 

This framework prioritizes crop insurance, increases reference prices, removes Biden’s harmful climate guardrails, and invests in rural infrastructure. Senator Marshall, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, has been fighting to ensure our Kansas farmers’ and ranchers’ voices are heard at the highest levels of government; this framework reflects those efforts and Kansans’ priorities. 

“For years now, we have fought to ensure our Kansas agriculture community has a seat at the highest levels of government – especially when it comes to negotiating the Farm Bill,” said Senator Marshall. We believe this framework reflects Kansas’ priorities and hope that farmers and ranchers across the country continue to throw their support behind putting ‘farm’ back in the Farm Bill. A lot of work still needs to be done to push a farm-friendly Farm Bill across the finish line as we continue to push for bipartisan legislation that our farmers deserve.”

See below for what Kansas agriculture leaders are saying about the Republicans Farm-first framework. 

“The Kansas Association of Wheat Growers is happy to see framework that puts the farm back in the Farm Bill. The Farm Bill is a crucial piece of legislation that provides essential support to farmers, and we were excited to see some of our key priorities such as increased reference price, doubled MAP and FMD funding and requiring that at least 50% of Food for Peace funding be used for procuring and shipping U.S. grown commodities was included,” said Kyler Millershaski, President of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers.

“We appreciate that this farm bill framework supported by Senator Marshall includes the top priorities for cattle producers such as funding to protect the U.S. cattle herd from foreign animal disease, continued support for voluntary conservation programs, and other critical food security provisions. We look forward to getting a Farm Bill with these priorities across the finish line,” said Philip Weltmer, President, Kansas Livestock Association.

“Kansas Corn farmers rely on a strong safety net in times of adverse weather and economic conditions,” said Kansas Corn Growers Association President J.D. Hanna. “This framework is another step in the right direction as Congress works to ensure that farmers have the stability they need. We appreciate Senator Marshall’s work in keeping the process moving and look forward to working with Congress to pass a Farm Bill this year.”

“The Senate Agriculture Committee Republican framework marks another important step toward enacting a strong farm bill. Kansas dairy farmers are grateful to our own Senator Roger Marshall for his work to secure three of his own bipartisan bills in the package. These include his Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act to reinstate the option for schools to serve whole and reduced-fat milk; his Innovative FEED Act to modernize the Food and Drug Administration’s review of animal feed ingredients; and his SAVE Act to preserve the use of common food names. We look forward to continuing to work with Senator Marshall and his colleagues to complete work on the next farm bill as soon as possible,” said Melissa Hildebrand Reed, President, Kansas Dairy Association 

“We appreciate Senator Marshall’s work on the strong Title I proposals in this framework that would create a future-focused farm safety net to help Kansas producers confidently confront events outside their control,” said Shane Ohlde, President of the Kansas Sorghum Producers. “From unpredictable weather, market volatility, and rising input costs, the increasingly urgent need for Congress to authorize a farmer-facing Farm Bill remains critical for the thousands of sorghum producers in Kansas who are taking the challenges of modern agriculture head on.”

“Our members thank Senator Marshall and his colleagues for their work to provide relief from burdensome multi-state regulations, expand foreign animal disease prevention resources and increase market access program funding through the farm bill framework. We hope these priorities will be included in the final version of the legislation,” said Tim Stroda, President and CEO, Kansas Pork Association.

“Kansas soybean growers appreciate seeing a Farm Bill framework that advances our priorities, including increased funding for vital safety net programs and expanded program access to support distinct farmer needs. The Kansas Soybean Association acknowledges the effort put forth by Senator Marshall and his colleagues to move a Farm Bill through Congress expeditiously,” Scott Gigstad, President of the Kansas Soybean Association.

“Kansas State University deeply appreciates the inclusion of several top Title VII priorities including the reauthorization of programs funding capacity, as well as research, extension, and academic programs that are essential to fulfilling our land-grant mission. Additionally, we applaud the awareness for the generational investment needed to address the significant backlog of over $11.5 billion in deferred maintenance at land-grant campuses, including K-State. This investment in the Research Facilities Act (RFA) will help to ensure the United States gains ground in funding food and agriculture R & D relative to other global competitors. Boldly funding the RFA at this point in the nation’s history is the highest long-term priority need within Title VII.” J. Ernest Minton, PhD, Dean, Kansas State University College of Agriculture

“In order for a farm bill to become law it must be bipartisan. Kansas Farm Bureau supports the efforts underway secure the minimum 60 votes in the Senate and move quickly to markup a bill in the Senate Ag Committee.” — Kansas Farm Bureau President Joe Newland

“The Farm Bill is vital for the stability and growth of the grain industry and agribusiness as a whole, providing essential support for farmers, ensuring a consistent food supply, and promoting agricultural innovation. It’s a cornerstone for our industry’s prosperity and sustainability. Our industry really appreciates Senator Marshall and his colleagues’ work focusing on putting farm back in the farm bill.” Ron Seeber, President and CEO, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association

Plains Cotton Growers Inc. (PCG) is highly encouraged by the farm bill framework proposed by the Senate Ag GOP. We greatly appreciate the efforts led by Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR) and Members of the Senate Committee for Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, like Sen. Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), as they have crafted a strong safety net for agriculture. “The uncertainty of Mother Nature, coupled with market volatility and high input prices, has taken a toll on cotton producers across the Southwest region and the entire cotton belt at large,” said PCG CEO Kody Bessent. “We appreciate the Senate Ag Republicans’ dedication to our industry and their efforts to strengthen agriculture. It’s imperative that Congress provides our producers with some much-needed security in these uncertain times, and we strongly encourage the Senate Agriculture Committee to take swift action on their version of the 2024 Farm Bill.”

A short summary of Senate Agriculture Committee Republicans’ Farm Bill framework is available HERE.

An overview of the key priorities of the framework is available HERE.

Background on Senate Republicans’ Farm Bill Framework:

• Fully paid for with no new spending;
• Enhances Title One Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs by increasing statutory reference prices for all commodities. References prices on all commodities are increased by an average of 15% for all commodities under this proposal; 
• Improves crop insurance coverage and affordability while allowing farmers to maintain access to Title One without requiring farmers to choose between crop insurance and Title One;
• Reinvests Inflation Reduction Act conservation funding into the Farm Bill conservation programs and provides full access to those dollars for all producers. Access to this funding is not conditioned on participating in the Biden Administration’s climate change agenda;
• Prevents the abuse of the Conservation Title to phase out livestock production, which is the largest contributor to the Kansas Ag economy;
• Protects the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program from future cuts and ensures a modest cost of living increase to benefits each year; 
• Doubles agriculture research funding and trade promotion programs to combat America’s record ag trade deficit;  
• Invests in rural infrastructure, rural child care, rural health care, community facilities, and small business development;
• Increases loan limits for producers struggling to keep up with record input costs and higher operating costs;
• Keeps farmers at the forefront of agricultural innovation by decreasing red tape for the approval of crop protection products;
• Improves America’s capability to prevent and respond to foreign animal disease threats; 
• Reins in the wild and reckless use of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation slush fund to redirect funds for farmer priorities;
• Makes Rural Broadband a permanent priority and focuses efforts on households with no internet;
• Creates a pathway in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the approval of new and innovative feed additives that improve efficiency in meat and dairy production; and
• Puts whole milk back in schools. 

A title-by-title summary is available in the links below:

Title I – Commodities, Title II – Conservation, Title III – Trade, Title IV – Nutrition, Title V – Credit, Title VI – Rural Development, Title VII – Research, Title VIII – Forestry, Title IX – Energy, Title X – Horticulture, Title XI – Crop Insurance, Title XII – Miscellaneous