Hinds Today

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) joined forces with other lawmakers and industry representatives to introduce the Federal Agriculture Risk Management Enhancement and Resilience (FARMER) Act, aimed at improving crop insurance affordability and enhancing risk management tools for agricultural producers.

Hyde-Smith, along with Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.), introduced the legislation with the goal of making crop insurance more accessible for farmers facing challenges such as higher input costs and outdated federal farm safety net policies. Speaking about the need for the FARMER Act, Hyde-Smith emphasized the importance of reallocating funds within the Farm Bill, stating, "Spending almost 80 percent of Farm Bill dollars on nonfarm-related programs is unacceptable, especially considering the enormous pressures under which our farmers operate."

Patrick Johnson of the National Cotton Council echoed the sentiments, highlighting the significance of crop insurance for farmers. "Farmers want crop insurance and farmers need crop insurance. The biggest obstacle for farmers purchasing the level of crop insurance they want to is the cost, not the desire," Johnson said in support of the FARMER Act.

The proposed legislation aims to enhance crop insurance affordability by increasing premium support for higher coverage levels and improving the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO). The FARMER Act is being considered for inclusion in the upcoming Farm Bill and has garnered support from various agricultural organizations, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Cotton Council, and National Corn Growers Association.

Hyde-Smith, who serves on the Senate Agriculture Committee and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, has been actively engaging with farmers and ranchers in Mississippi to gather feedback on Farm Bill issues. The introduction of the FARMER Act underscores her commitment to addressing the needs of agricultural producers and strengthening the farm safety net.

The collaboration between lawmakers and industry stakeholders signals a unified effort to support the agricultural community and enhance crop insurance programs to better serve the needs of farmers across the country.