‘We need a new comprehensive farm bill’: Farmers and ranchers react to government reopening

MALCOLM, Neb. (KLKN) – The farm bill has evolved over the decades, covering issues such as agricultural nutrition, policy, and research and development.

Farmers and ranchers alike are looking for it to evolve again, especially since the government reopened on Wednesday.

Larry Hudkins has more than 60 years of experience in both farming and ranching.

He was also the president of the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Association and a former County Commissioner with 29 years of experience.

Hudkins said he was relieved when he learned the nation’s longest-lasting government shutdown was over, but his second thought was what it would mean for young farmers and ranchers.

“At least now, hopefully, both sides can bury the hatchet and get to work and solve the things that farmers and ranchers really need,” he said.

One of the first things he would like to see is Congress modernizing the Farm Bill.

According to Congress.gov, the Farm Bill is a set of policies that govern agricultural affairs, such as funding and research, over several years.

Upon the government’s reopening, the bill received an extension, but the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says it’s not enough.

The group released the following statement: “While we’re grateful to the Trump administration for easing the burden of the shutdown on producers, it still caused widespread disruptions, and we are glad it is now resolved.”

Hudkins said the extension is missing some aspects.

“We need a new comprehensive farm bill with input from all factions of agriculture,” he said, adding that the current bill doesn’t address the present-day challenges young farmers and ranchers face, such as inflation.

Hudkins points out that crop farmers are currently losing about 50 cents per bushel.

Health insurance for farmers and ranchers is also a costly expense. It is required to purchase, and the cost can reach up to $37,000 annually.

“That’s a big load for a beginning farmer or rancher,” said Hudkins.

“Government action has always had a big determination of this in the long run, so when you have people in Washington making decisions that don’t understand the local situation, that’s when we get into trouble,” he said.

Many feel that modernizing the bill will boost the nation’s overall economy, and after 43 days of closed offices, they say it’s an urgent matter.