Hoosier farmers not exempt from supply chain problems

Indiana is home to more than 94,000 farmers and ranks in the top five states for crop production thanks to our industrious, innovative farmers. Farming is vital to the economic success of our great state, contributing an estimated $31.2 billion to Indiana’s economy, and, as a leading agricultural producer in the United States, the Hoosier state is essential to putting food on grocery store shelves and on the tables of all Americans.

However, current supply chain disruptions coupled with the ongoing truck driver shortage are making it increasingly difficult for farmers to get their crops from farm to table. For years, Hoosier farmers have felt the negative impacts of delays in moving their crop supplies, constantly battling time. These transportation challenges have been exacerbated over the last year and a half as COVID-19 crippled the supply chain. While corn and soybean harvests have been trending upward this season, Hoosier farmers now must navigate getting their yields to buyers with fewer drivers on the road.

Truck drivers are essential to moving commodities across our nation, and the devastating driver deficit strains both buyers and sellers while also adding costs to the ultimate consumers. The truck driver shortage is estimated to be over 80,000 drivers, and the American Trucking Association (ATA) estimates one million new drivers will need to be hired over the next decade to combat the current shortage and upcoming retirements.

I reintroduced the Developing Responsible Individuals for a Vibrant Economy (DRIVE-Safe) Act this year. DRIVE- Safe enables 18-21 year-olds already holding a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to drive across state lines after completing an extensive safety program. This bipartisan legislation opens up more career opportunities for young Hoosiers and empowers our economy to grow faster, a win for this generation and the next.

Putting food on the table is what Hoosier farmers do, and we can simultaneously make it easier for them to get their commodities to market, lower prices for end consumers, and create new exciting careers for the next generation all in one single piece of legislation.

Congressman Trey Hollingsworth was elected to the U.S House of Representatives in 2016 to represent the 9th District, which covers all or parts of Johnson, Morgan, Brown, Monroe, Jackson, Lawrence, Scott, Washington, Orange, Clark, Crawford, Floyd, and Harrison counties. He lives in Jeffersonville, Ind. with his wife, Kelly, and their son, Joseph.