Mobile Courant

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Alabama’s representative on the U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (AG) Committee, praised the Senate Republican-drafted Farm Bill framework released by Ranking Member Boozman (R-AR). The framework aims to support farmers and producers in Alabama and nationwide by emphasizing agricultural priorities.

"Every time I visit Alabama, I hear from farmers who are struggling to stay afloat in Joe Biden’s economy," said Senator Tuberville. "They need a Farm Bill that will help them shoulder the immense burden of feeding, fueling, and clothing our country—not a woke laundry list of burdensome climate regulations."

The framework includes several of Senator Tuberville's agriculture priorities for Alabama’s foresters, farmers, and producers. These priorities were developed through listening sessions with members of Alabama’s agriculture community.

**Improving Access to Clean Water in Rural Communities**

Senator Tuberville has focused on modernizing community water systems as the Ranking Member of the Senate AG Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy. He introduced a bipartisan amendment to increase funding for clean water and sewage systems through USDA’s Rural Decentralized Water System program. The House Farm Bill and Senate Republican framework include language similar to this amendment.

**Combating Foreign Influence in American Agriculture**

Senator Tuberville has introduced legislation aimed at reducing foreign influence in agriculture supply chains. This includes measures like the Foreign Adversary Risk Management Act and Protecting America’s Agricultural Land from Foreign Harm Act. The House Farm Bill and Senate Republican framework incorporate elements from these legislative efforts.

**Boosting Alabama’s Pecan and Tree Nut Farmers**

The House Farm Bill and Senate Republican framework include Senator Tuberville's Farmers’ Market Expansion Act, which would make pecans and other tree nuts eligible for USDA's Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP). This initiative is intended to expand healthy food options for low-income seniors while increasing market opportunities for pecan and tree nut farmers.

**Protecting Farmers from Feral Swine**

Senator Tuberville introduced the Feral Swine Eradication Act to extend a pilot program addressing feral swine threats. The House Farm Bill and Senate Republican framework allocate $150 million in mandatory funding for 2025-2029 towards this effort.

**Expanding Crop Protections**

Both legislative frameworks include language similar to Senator Tuberville's Mid-South Oilseed Double Cropping Study Act of 2023. They also propose increasing reference prices by 10-20 percent for Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs to protect row crop producers facing rising costs.

**Increasing Access to Capital**

Senator Tuberville has advocated for raising guaranteed loan caps for farm loans to facilitate access to capital for farmers. Both legislative frameworks propose increasing limits for guaranteed operating loans to $3 million and ownership loans to $3.5 million.

**Expanding Broadband Access for Rural Communities**

As Ranking Member of the AG Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy, Senator Tuberville prioritizes expanding broadband access in rural areas. Both legislative frameworks aim to make USDA’s ReConnect program permanent with targeted funding toward underserved communities without adequate connectivity.

Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate as a member of the Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.

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