By U.S. Rep. Jim Baird
Republican Party, Indiana District 4
Greetings fellow Hoosiers. As the only Indiana member on the Agriculture Committee, I’ve made it my mission to ensure that our farmers, ranchers and growers get a fair shake. Hoosiers form the backbone of American agriculture, and our farmers always do better when the government gets off their backs and provides them with the resources they need to keep feeding our nation.
For the past three years, my colleagues and I have hosted listening sessions with rural communities to better understand the current state of American agriculture and discuss their needs. This year, our primary focus is passing the farm bill, a complex and multifaceted undertaking.
There is no such thing as a standard farm bill process. In fact, 2018 was the first time in history that the farm bill passed without needing an extension.
Despite complications in 2023, Congress extended many farm bill programs until Sept. 30, 2024, to provide stability for our producers. However, this extension does not replace a full reauthorization.
From the beginning, we on the Agriculture Committee have been clear about our commitment to passing an effective five-year reauthorization of the farm bill to prevent disruption for farm families. Thankfully, the 2018 Farm Bill was a good piece of legislation. Instead of completely rewriting it, we are working diligently to make revisions that will prepare America for the future of agriculture.
As a fellow farmer, one of my biggest priorities for this year’s bill is maintaining a robust federal crop insurance program. Hoosier farmers have relied on this crucial program when disaster strikes, which is why it’s never been more important to protect it. But we are also working to modernize federal agriculture policy.
As Chairman of the Subcommittee for Conservation, Research and Biotechnology, my biggest priorities for this year’s bill include preserving voluntary and incentive-based conservation programs, prioritizing research and cutting-edge technologies for our farmers, and incentivizing innovation by modernizing biotechnology regulations.
By addressing these important challenges, we can fight zoonotic diseases, address the shortages of technical service providers, and develop new science-based solutions to food security and safety.
I am committed to making Washington understand the needs of Indiana farmers and rural communities nationwide. I will continue fighting to include our state’s priorities in this year’s farm bill and ensure that Hoosiers are never left behind.
For more information, please contact my office or visit my website at Baird.House.gov.
