We've Been Patient; Now it's Time to pass the Farm Bill
By: U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani & Arizona Farm Bureau President Stefanie Smallhouse
Arizona’s agricultural industry contributes $23.3 billion to our state’s economy each year. The success of this industry is attributable to the innovation of our farmers and ranchers, but also to the uniqueness of our climate: temperatures where crops can grow year-round and public lands where cattle can forage freely. The Farm Bill, a legislative package that needs to be reauthorized every five years, provides critical support for farmers and ranchers in the West. When our agricultural economy is stable, families across Arizona, and America, benefit. We all depend on agriculture’s success, so it is critical that Congress act now.
The Farm Bill is one of the most significant pieces of legislation that ensures a safe and abundant food supply. It also serves those in need through the supplemental nutrition assistance program, which accounts for nearly 80% of the bills’ spending. Arizona Farm Bureau and Congressman Ciscomani have been calling on Congress to pass a new Farm Bill. In November 2023 Congress enacted a one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill until September 2024. It is now time for Congress to act and get a new farm bill passed.
As a member of Congress, I have always been an advocate for a Farm Bill that provides farmers and ranchers with the necessary tools to keep America’s food supply strong. I am calling on my colleagues to put party politics aside and roll up our sleeves to pass a new Farm Bill. I have the privilege to serve on the Southwest Farm Bill working group and recognize that the food and agriculture sector is critical to our economy, making up roughly one-fifth of U.S. economic activity, directly supporting nearly 23 million jobs - 15% of total U.S. employment. When we look across the entire food and agriculture supply chain, agriculture’s impact is even more striking, supporting more than 46 million jobs.
The Farm Bill is broken down into 12 different titles all of which are important to the economy, food production and feeding an ever-growing population. As President of Arizona Farm Bureau, I will continue to work with county leadership to advocate for increased baseline funding for farm programs that prioritize risk management tools like crop insurance and commodity programs.
America’s farmers and ranchers are proud to grow the food that helps supply more than 9 billion meals annually through the Farm Bill’s nutrition programs, which ensure the most vulnerable among us have access to healthy, reliable, and affordable food. Farm Bill conservation programs recognize farmers as partners in sustainability and provide resources to help them care for environmentally sensitive land and employ climate-smart practices in their fields to help preserve wildlife habitat, soil, and water. Through the Farm Bill, farmers have voluntarily enrolled 140 million acres in conservation programs—that is equal to the size of California and New York combined.
The Farm Bill’s investment in agricultural research and conservation programs is critical to reaching sustainability goals as we work to feed a growing population in an environmentally sustainable way. Thanks to advances in climate-smart farming, farmers are producing more with fewer resources. To put this in perspective, it would have taken 100 million more acres 40 years ago to produce the same amount of food, feed, fiber, and fuel we are growing today.
Currently China is outspending the U.S. 2 to 1 in agricultural research. We must invest in new technologies that will enable farmers to continue meeting the needs of America’s families and keep the U.S. a leader in food production. The vibrancy of our rural communities relies on Farm Bill programs that support rural infrastructure and other investments, including broadband, a “must have” to ensure career opportunities as well as access to quality education and health care.
The Farm Bill extends well beyond the agriculture sector and impacts everyone. Simply extending the current Farm Bill will not work; we must have a bill that is adequately funded and addresses the changing landscape of agriculture. The cost of growing food has increased, and Congress must recognize the need for increased funding to relieve the financial pressures on our farmers and ranchers. We must work in a bipartisan way to pass this critical legislation.
We call on our friends and colleagues in Congress, the time to act is now!