By Sen. Kay Hagan
www.blueridgenow.com

As record rainfall floods several counties in North Carolina, farmers are losing tens of millions of dollars worth of food crops. Tomatoes have been wrought with disease. In some fields, half of all sweet corn has been destroyed. The list of affected crops has grown long: green peppers and green beans, berries and apples, squash and hay. All have been soaked.

Oversaturated soils and pesky fungi present more than a short-term problem for farmers, who are the lifeblood of our state's largest industry. Experts predict losses could double for producers, some of whom may think twice before they plant a crop next year. Sod growers and other nonfood crops have been hurt by excess rain as well.

I am supportive of an emergency declaration from the U.S. agriculture secretary. Yet as our farmers wait for federal assistance, the crop losses they face demonstrate the importance of finally passing into law the 2013 farm bill. The crop insurance and safety net programs in the bipartisan Senate farm bill would help protect farmers from catastrophic losses.

For the second time in two years, the Senate approved a bipartisan farm bill containing the most significant reforms to American agriculture policy in decades. Fundamental to these reforms is a suite of new crop insurance programs that will help farmers recover from events outside their control - such as the rain-induced crop losses many farmers in Western North Carolina are experiencing today.

In addition to new crop insurance programs, the Senate farm bill provides the certainty our farmers need to keep our agricultural economy growing. It streamlines and strengthens programs that our farmers depend on to grow crops, create new jobs and foster economic growth in rural communities. And the Senate farm bill accomplishes crucial reforms while cutting $24 billion from the deficit.

But even as the 2013 Senate farm bill overcame partisan gridlock to garner broad bipartisan support, the House of Representatives has not even considered the legislation. Agriculture affects countless North Carolinians, and it is unacceptable that the House has not considered the Senate's bipartisan bill. Agriculture employs hundreds of thousands in our state, making it a critical industry that is pegged to our economic recovery.

My first priority during debate on the 2013 farm bill was making sure it worked for North Carolina's farmers. I listened to our state's farmers and agri-businesses as we debated and drafted the legislation, and I worked hard to ensure the bill contained policies important to North Carolina.

For example, earlier this year our farmers voiced concern following a major crop insurance fraud case in North Carolina. They noted that in these difficult budget times, the actions of a few bad actors could jeopardize future support for federal crop insurance programs. To prevent this from occurring, I crafted an amendment that provides the Risk Management Agency with resources to combat fraud and preserve safety net programs for the vast majority of honest, hardworking farmers in North Carolina.

The bipartisan 2013 Senate farm bill is a true win for North Carolina's farmers and our economy. The crop losses our farmers are experiencing demonstrate the need for sound crop insurance policies. I urge the House to pass the bipartisan, common-sense farm bill the Senate approved nearly three months ago. Our farmers have waited long enough.

To read this op-ed column at The Hendersonville Times-News, please click here.