WASHINGTON–Farmers in Mississippi have gotten some financial help, but are nowhere near being made whole, said Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, during a confirmation hearing this week for Richard Fordyce, the nominee to be the USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation.
She praised some of the provisions made in the “One Big Beautiful Bill”, but said more needs to be done.
“These legislative achievements handed a lifeline to the American farmers and ranchers,” said Hyde-Smith. “But the bottom line is this, American agriculture is not out of the weeds yet, as we well know. We know what the struggles are despite all of our best efforts. Times are still tough, and farmers are going to have to survive unfavorable conditions until much of the farm safety net improvements kick in.”
“With the current situation we’re experiencing in the farm economy, we must have an all-hands-on-deck approach to support our producers as we head into harvest season,” she added.
Fordyce committed to looking into ways for the USDA to help, saying he would like to see the agency and Congress work together to help build strength in the farming industry.
“Through the reconciliation process and after years of working on this issue, Congress is making producers of farm-raised fish experiencing losses associated with bird depredation eligible for ELAP. While this is a major win in helping our producers deal with this critical issue, it’s crucial that USDA implement this reform with clear, accessible, and producer-friendly guidance,” Hyde-Smith said.
She also asked for Fordyce’s help in extending emergency assistance for people in the livestock and honeybee business.
