Crawford statement on passage of the Senate Farm Bill

Unfortunately, the Senate Farm Bill passed today takes a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to agricultural production, and applies a Midwest insurance risk-management model to the entirety of U.S. agriculture. The House Farm Bill must be fair to every region of the United States – not just a single region. Farming in the Arkansas Delta involves unique production methods. The Mid-South largely uses irrigation methods, which reduces production risk and yield variability. However, farmers in my district grow crops that face tremendous market uncertainty where if prices swing too far in one direction, it could be enough to put a farmer out of business. The House Farm Bill must be reflective of the farmer’s production risk – whatever that may be.