The Concern of Farmers and Ranchers

Given on the Floor of the U.S. House of Representatives

 by Congressman Jerry Moran

October 26, 2005

Mr. Speaker, tonight I rise to voice the concerns of farmers and ranchers who struggle to feed the world as well as their own families. Kansans will tell you it is difficult to make a living on the farm. Federal farm policies do not take into account the current scenario of input prices rising to record levels. Natural disasters, whether it is hurricanes in the South, in the gulf, or droughts in the Midwest, still fall far beyond what a farm bill or crop insurance policy can adequately address.

As we have seen with hurricanes Katrina and Rita, not only do such disasters introduce terrible human suffering and paralyze the region in which they hit, but they also affect with transportation bottlenecks and skyrocketing energy prices many others a long way away.

Any suggestion that things are good in ag country does not meet the reality test. Having completed 69 town hall meetings, one in each of the counties that I represent, I know farmers are greatly affected by the high cost of fuel, fertilizer, and natural gas.

American agriculture depends on natural gas to bring food to our tables. We use natural gas for irrigation, for drying our crops, processing our food, and, most importantly, in producing our fertilizer.

In addition to price of natural gas and fertilizer, the cost of diesel is a major concern for producers. In Kansas, it is estimated that the average farmer's fuel bill will increase $17,000 this year. Since January, diesel fuel has increased from $1.95 a gallon to $3.15 a gallon this month. Kansas farmers say when you do the math, it just does not pencil out.

It is easy for a Congressman to talk about these issues, but the mail from my Kansas farmers can better tell of the real struggles and convey the real story of life on the farm.

Mr. Speaker, this is a letter from a farmer at Otis, Kansas. He gives me his name and tells me he is a middle-age farmer with an operation located in western Barton and eastern Rush counties. He tells me: "The recent fuel and fertilizer price increases are pushing my bottom line into the red. Three years ago I could buy a transport load of diesel fuel for $7,800 and today the same amount costs me $27,740, a difference of 330 percent."

He says: "It seems as though other industries can pass fuel expenses by putting on fuel surcharges. However, we are not able to do that. The American public is taking the farmer for granted with the cheap quality food that we provide. Wait until we are dependent upon foreign food like we are oil. I just hope and pray that the farmer can survive. Thanks for any help."

And this from Lynette Stenzel, a farmer in Ness City, Kansas. She tells me she is "extremely concerned with rising fuel prices. It not only affects the economic concerns on the farmer, but our local government, schools, churches, hospitals and even our community service organizations. More money into the expense side of farming leaves less on the income side to support schools, churches and help raise funds for community projects. When living in a rural area, the economic situation of the farmer really does affect local bills as well."

She tells me that her younger brother, who now operates a third-generation family farm, said he felt if and when he had to pay the same amount for fuel as he got for a bushel of wheat, it would be time to give up the farm. "I am hoping he forgot that comment, as that time is here. His 12-year-old son wants to continues the family farm, so hopefully that will be possible."

Finally, from a farm couple in Southwest Kansas: "The real America is not in the political realm of Washington. Real Americans cannot afford to drive to work. They won't be able to heat their homes in the winter. Real American farmers continue to lose money feeding the world. We need real help for the real America."

Mr. Speaker, we need to work together as Members of Congress, as policymakers in these very challenging times. We must pursue economic, agriculture, and energy policies that increase the chances that our farmers can continue to farm the land and feed the world.

Mr. Speaker, as my farmers said, we need real help for the real America.