08.01.23

Hoeven Gathers Feedback on Upcoming Farm Bill, Discusses Efforts to Ensure Strong & Effective Farm Safety Net

LEEDS, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven, Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today gathered input on the upcoming farm bill from local producers, agribusinesses and crop insurance providers at a listening session in Leeds. In particular, the senator highlighted the need to:

  • Maintain and strengthen crop insurance, the primary risk management tool for many producers.
    • Hoeven stressed that by allowing farmers to select a higher level of coverage, particularly in the northern plains, producers will be better able to weather natural disasters.
  • Update and improve the counter-cyclical safety net, including the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs.
    • Hoeven stated that the programs need to reflect market realities and the cost of production that farmers are currently facing.

“Our farmers and ranchers form the foundation of our state’s economy, while ensuring every American continues to have access to the highest-quality, lowest-cost food supply in the world,” said Hoeven. “U.S. farm policy plays a critical role in ensuring our producers continue to succeed in the global marketplace, and as we work to craft the next farm bill, it’s important that we strengthen the farm safety net, including crop insurance, ARC and PLC. Meetings like this provide the opportunity to ensure farmers can shape these policies so they remain an effective backstop for our ag industry.” 

The meeting comes as part of Hoeven’s continued efforts to provide North Dakota farmers and ranchers with the opportunity to give direct feedback and ensure U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs work for producers. In addition to improving the farm safety net, the senator is working to:

  • Ensure support for U.S. sugar policy.
  • Improve transparency and competition in cattle markets.
  • Enhance livestock disaster programs, including the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), the Livestock Forage Program (LFP) and the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP).
  • Make sure programs are voluntary and farmer-friendly, instead of one-size-fits-all, to reduce the regulatory burden on producers.

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