MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan, - We had a chance catch up with Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran to visit a bit about the farm bill. He and U.S. Senator Roger Marshall are both on the Senate Ag Committee, thanks to Moran being able to get an exemption to be on the committee.
When asked, Moran replied, “We've had two hearings in the last month, both related to input from producers from across the country, from National Farm organizations as well as commodity groups, all with the design of making sure they have we get the latest input into what should be included in a new Farm Bill.”
When asked about the importance of the Farm Bill he replied, “A reason to be on the farm, on the ag committee this year is a farm bill needs to be done, and we want to have that input. And the committee is doing its work to set the stage to produce a farm bill for American agriculture this year.
We visited about the importance of assistance from the Capitol. He replied that congress disaster assistance for farmers across the country. “In addition to that, Congress, at the end of the year passed and the President signed into law disaster assistance for farmers across the country, disasters related to both weather and certainly in Kansas, the disaster is drought as well as economic disaster”, said Moran.
The prime concern for ag producers is rising costs and diminishing income. He stressed that they have been in communication with the Secretary of Agriculture. They want to make sure that the money gets into the pockets of farmers and ranchers.
“Then that money is spent within the community. Are whether you're a farmer or rancher or not you live in most places in Kansas, your economic well-being is determined by whether or not, farmers and ranchers are having any success.” Moran said.
The pressing issue is how long before the bill makes it to the chamber floor.
Moran said, “And at least you know, based upon conversations with my colleagues on the committee, talking to leadership of the of the Senate, the expectation is to complete a farm bill before what we call our August recess, when Congress adjourns for the month of August. So we have about six months in order to get this complete”
Consumers are getting hit at the check out line. When asked about the price of food, inflation is still a problem. “I mentioned it earlier in the cost for farmers, their input costs, feed, fertilizer, natural gas, diesel fuel, labor costs, interest rates, all mean that they're being squeezed, and Americans are feeling that” Moran said.
He did add that the Secretary of Agriculture this week announced a new five-point plan on dealing with egg prices.
“It involves a number of things, including research and inoculation and compensation for losses. We'll see how that actually gets rolled out.” He continued, “But the goal is to produce more poultry in the United States, more poultry that's disease free, and to allow for greater imports of eggs from places outside the United States where the bird flu is not prevalent.”