The Farm Bill

Arkansas’s First Congressional District is home to a diversified agricultural economy. In the fertile Mississippi River Delta we grow cotton, rice, corn, soybeans, wheat, peanuts and even raise catfish. In stark contrast to the Delta stand the Ozark Foothills, where we have poultry, cattle, and timber producers. More rice is produced in my district than any other district in the nation. In fact, farm families in my district grow nearly half of all rice produced in the United States. Annually, agriculture in Arkansas is a $16 billion economic juggernaut that employs over 260,000 Arkansans.

Of all the members on the House Agriculture Committee, I am one of the few Representatives from the Mid-South, so it is my job to educate members of the Agriculture Committee from other corners of the country about the unique challenges Arkansas’s producers face. Just as manufacturers face competition from overseas, Arkansas farmers also feel the pressure from foreign markets. I am proud that American farmers produce the safest, most reliable, most abundant supply of food on the planet. After more than three years of working towards crafting a new Farm Bill, my House colleagues finally joined me in passing a bill that provides a secure safety net for producers and provides nutritional assistance to the families who need it most, all while saving tax payers millions of dollars. 

Crop insurance is one of the biggest improvements. Mid-South producers have long said crop insurance doesn’t work for them. Finally, through expanded access—including Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and a shallow-loss revenue program—it finally offers appropriate coverage for First District growers. Beyond crop insurance, disaster assistance received permanent reauthorization. I’m happy to say that after years of hardship from drought and adverse weather conditions, our cattle producers know they can rely upon much-needed relief.

In addition, our rural communities will see improvements through critical investments, while our most struggling families will see nutrition assistance to help put food on their tables. As water availability and quality issues grow more rampant, this Farm Bill establishes conservation efforts that will benefit Arkansas’ First District. These efforts include annually increasing funds for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), expanding access to the Conservation Stewardship Program, and creating the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), which even includes funding for irrigation districts.

Despite these victories, I believe Congress left much work unfinished. The bill didn’t reform harmful Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) regulations or fix mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) requirements for meat producers, which increase costs for meat and poultry producers while also threatening trading relationships with Canada and Mexico. In addition, Congress failed to rein in burdensome Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations for our District’s agricultural producers, allowing a vocal minority of environmental activists in the Senate to push their own agendas. In particular, I unsuccessfully advocated for greater reforms to the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Rule requiring agricultural producers to build containment facilities around tanks containing oil-based products.

Despite my misgivings, I’m happy 250 House members joined me in passing this vital piece of legislation. I also thank Arkansas Sen. John Boozman for serving as a fellow conferee throughout this lengthy legislative process. Without his and his staff’s tireless efforts, molding the Bill would’ve proven nearly impossible. Sen. Boozman listened to the needs of Arkansans, and he helped deliver a reflective product.

Ultimately, I give credit to the patience of Arkansas’ producers and rural communities. Thankfully, they now have a Farm Bill that works across Arkansas’ First District and throughout the U.S. But if the great success story of American agriculture is to continue, Congress must focus on the implementation of the 2014 Farm bill. As the new Chairman of the General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Subcommittee, I am tasked with ensuring that the Farm Bill is serving our producer's unique needs and is implemented in the ways we originally intended. Ultimately, as the economic landscape shifts and unforeseen challenges arise, Congress must remain vigilant and sensitive to the varying needs of agriculture producers across the country, and I look forward to continuing the process of serving our farming communities' needs.