Hinds Today

U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith has called on Congress to take immediate action to provide both natural disaster and market loss assistance for farmers across the nation. The Mississippi Republican warned that failing to address these issues could lead to a crisis reminiscent of the 1980s farm crisis, which would result in significant taxpayer costs.

In her speech, Hyde-Smith highlighted the dire state of the agricultural economy, citing "unprecedented market conditions and natural disasters" as major challenges for farmers over the past two years. She urged her colleagues in Congress to offer comprehensive support, stating, "They need help recovering from both – not one or the other."

Hyde-Smith serves on both the Senate Agriculture Committee and Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee. She emphasized that economic difficulties faced by farmers should receive federal attention comparable to that given to recent natural disasters. According to Hyde-Smith, factors contributing to this situation include inflation, high interest rates and production costs, low farm income, depressed crop prices, declining exports, and inadequate federal price support policy.

Mississippi producers are projected to incur losses between $65 and more than $300 per acre for each covered commodity during the 2024 crop year. Nationwide market losses are estimated at $31 billion this year alone. Additionally, a U.S. trade deficit is expected to reach a record $45 billion in fiscal year 2025.

Farm Bureau organizations from all 50 states and Puerto Rico have joined major agricultural organizations in urging Congress for market loss assistance alongside natural disaster aid. They argue that addressing only one aspect of the problem will leave many farmers unsupported amid record input costs and low prices.

Hyde-Smith cautioned against ignoring market losses: "If Congress fails...we’re going to have a farm crisis in this country worse than the 1980s crisis." She concluded with a question for her colleagues: "Are we going to learn from lessons of the past and take appropriate action?"

The House and Senate Agriculture Committees are working on proposals estimated at $15 billion aimed at covering market losses alongside natural disaster damages.