Senate Ag Leaders Ask for Reserve Funds to Strengthen Farm Safey Net in 2023 Farm Bill

U.S. Senate Ag Committee members sent a letter to the Senate Budget Committee to request additional funds for the 2023 farm bill. Leading members say drawing on reserves to “strengthen farm and food safety nets” has become a clear need in recent farm bill hearings. Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Ranking Member John Boozman (R-Ar.) say reserve funds will help end ad hoc disaster assistance. This program has distributed more than $90 billion to disaster-impacted farmers through trade and pandemic challenges.

Both leaders also expressed their concern over the status of ag market data that is needed to quantify risk management in the farm bill. Currently, Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) 10-year average commodity prices are well below USDA experts’ price projections. Finally, the letter also urged that no funding cuts should be made in the next farm bill.

Read more on senate leaders asks for the 2023 farm bill here.