By Julie Tomascik
Editor

The farm bill, a five-year piece of legislation that provides security for farmers, still has yet to pass, and Texas farmers are calling on Congress to get it done.

A group of Texas Farm Bureau leaders met with Congressional lawmakers last week, stressing the importance of passing a modernized bill soon and providing an economic assistance package before the end of the year.

“Congress not passing a farm bill has put us in a position where prices are not keeping up with inflation,” TFB District 12 State Director Brian Adamek said. “Something needs to be done before the end of the year.”

During the trip, farmers discussed the need for increasing reference prices and addressing the staggering input costs, as well as increasing baseline commitments to current farm program needs.

“Farmers and ranchers are feeling very stressed right now,” said Adamek, who farms in Victoria County. “There’s uncertainty about getting financing from banks since it does not cash flow right now. And with low commodity prices, the uncertainty of the farm bill’s future adds to the stress.”

Potential payments under the next farm bill won’t be available to farmers until October 2026. The delay in securing a comprehensive farm bill is intensifying challenges for farmers and ranchers, many of whom are grappling with rising costs, low commodity prices and uncertain financial prospects. That’s why the Farm Bureau and other agricultural organizations are pushing for an economic assistance package.

Texas farmers tell Congress to pass a farm bill during Capitol Hill visit TFB state directors and members visited Capitol Hill last week to talk with lawmakers about passing a farm bill.

“We need an economic package to bridge the gap and hold farmers over until a new farm bill is passed and it goes into effect,” Adamek said.

Without the economic assistance and the certainty that farm safety net programs provide, Adamek noted it will get more difficult in agriculture and family farms could go out of business.

“A lot of farmers have had multiple years of losses, low prices,” he said. “We’ve had good crops down on the coast, but with the prices the way they are and high inputs, it doesn’t add up. Something has to be done.”

Farmers are also sounding the alarm about the long-term implications of Congress’ inaction. The absence of a reliable safety net not only threatens current operations but also discourages younger generations from entering agriculture.

“The next generation that wants to come into agriculture is going to have a tough time. Agriculture is extremely capital heavy,” he said. “It takes lots of money and lots of faith because you don’t know if you’re going to make a crop at the end. Anything can happen. It’s all a risk, and adding financial uncertainty to it makes it even harder.”

Farmers say the stakes couldn’t be higher, with the livelihoods of farming families and the security of the nation’s food supply hanging in the balance. Farm Bureau is urging Congress to pass legislation that supports agriculture, strengthens rural economies and ensures the resilience of America’s food and fiber production.

“Congress needs to act now,” Adamek said.

The one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill expired on Sept. 30, leaving farmers in limbo.

Additional information on which programs are impacted by the expiration of the farm bill extension is available here.

Texas farmers tell Congress to pass a farm bill during Capitol Hill visit TFB state directors and members visited Capitol Hill last week to talk with lawmakers about passing a farm bill.