The season for a farm bill is now

As harvest season approaches for much of the country, more than 80 percent of Texas corn fields are harvested. With grain in the bins, this is a season many farm families across the state are putting pencil to paper to determine plans for their farm for the year ahead - and if they can secure the funds necessary to make it happen. Often, agricultural lenders need the financial backing and certainty only a farm bill can offer - something that's not yet on the table for consideration as the current farm bill is set to expire at the end of this month.

"America's farm families - especially those in a state like Texas that begin planting core commodities in January or February - need to be able to show their bankers their farms are a sound financial investment," Texas Corn Producers Association Executive Vice President David Gibson says. "Without the assurance of sound farm policy, family farms are at risk of not securing the financial backing they need to make plans to put seed in the ground in 2025."

TCPA has continued its talks with legislators and their staff throughout this year - urging a bipartisan bill that offers adequate risk protection to keep family farms in business and the domestically-grown food, feed, fuel and fiber Americans appreciate available.

The agricultural economy is in a downward spiral. With input costs up due to inflation, farmers are faced with negative margins trying to keep their farms in business. Though the 2018 Farm Bill is a valuable tool, agriculturalists have called for improvements to modernize the bill since its original expiration date in September of last year. A whole year later, agricultural groups continue to plead the case for sound farm policy.

TCPA has advocated several aspects of this farm bill, with some key priorities at the forefront:

• Increase Price Loss Coverage (PLC) reference prices
  To be relevant to today's record-high $5.25 per bushel cost of corn production, the statutory reference price for corn should be increased 15-25%.
• Allow a voluntary base acre update
  Enable farmers growing a program crop that incurs market and production risks to be eligible for the farm bill's Title 1 risk protection by offering a voluntary base acre update.
• Increase the corn loan rate
  The marketing assistance loans (MAL) in the farm bill help farmers maintain cash flow during harvest, and it is necessary to increase this loan rate for corn.

TCPA President Jim Sugarek reiterates that the time for a farm bill is now, and an economic disaster package is essential.

"It's not the time to leave rural America in limbo," Sugarek says. "Farmers need Congress to act on sound farm policies sooner than later. Texas farmers like me are among the first to plant the 2025 crop - and we're facing daunting economic times with low yields, high inputs and low prices. Two years of compounding inflation have painted a dire picture in farm country. Farmers desperately need an economic disaster relief package to overcome the financial devastation they've faced in 2023 and 2024. Moving forward, a passed farm bill and economic disaster package are essential to them building an adequate farm plan for the year ahead."

TCPA is continuing to bring Texas farmers' concerns to Congress. The association will continue to work diligently until the job is done and a farm bill is in place for America's farmers. Join TCPA in its farm bill efforts by supporting the association through your membership - and also letting your Congressional representatives know the time for a farm bill is NOW!

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