Regardless of our job or where we live, agriculture matters to us. Agriculture puts food on our tables, clothes on our back, and the roof above our heads. Our welfare depends on agriculture. One in five Americans work in jobs related to agriculture and food production. If we want strong schools, growing businesses, and vibrant communities, we must make sure farmers and ranchers in our state have the opportunity to prosper. When agriculture is successful, Kansas is successful.

As a senator from a farm state, I often find myself educating my colleagues and other officials in Washington, D.C., about the critical importance of strong agriculture policy - not just domestically, but around the globe. I am committed to seeking opportunities and fair treatment for our farmers. With an ever more urban Congress and the complexities of a global agricultural economy, this is often not an easy task. To keep the family farm alive, however, it is worth every bit of effort. The family farm contributes enormously to the strength and stability of our rural economy. In towns from coast to coast, consumers enjoy a safe and affordable food and fiber supply due to the efficiency and performance of America's family farmers.

In addition to being the economic backbone of so many of the towns you and I come from, agriculture is also our link to the past - to times when family was the axis around which all things revolved. In today's fast-paced world, there are few industries where sons and daughters can work side-by-side with moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas.

Today, uncertain economic conditions and the competitive global marketplace are creating financial hardships for many families, farmers and businesses in our state and across the country. Ensuring the future of our state's agriculture industry is one of my top priorities in the Senate. As a U.S. Senator I will work to create better awareness and understanding in Washington of the financial challenges farmers experience on a daily basis. I will continue my past efforts to improve crop insurance, promote additional demand for our commodities through trade, support livestock producers, and look for ways we can address high energy costs. 

As the 2012 Farm Bill ramps up, I will continue my work to protect the risk management tools and marketing opportunities necessary to maintaining a healthy agricultural economy in Kansas.