Mobile Courant

Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) addressed the Senate floor regarding the impact of the Biden administration’s inflationary policies on American farmers. He emphasized the need for a Farm Bill that prioritizes American farmers.

“Mr. President, I rise today to talk about the dire state of our American farm economy and our farmers,” Tuberville began. “American farmers and producers are the backbone of our nation’s agriculture economy and food security.”

Tuberville described the current state of the agriculture economy as bleak, with rising costs for farmers and falling commodity prices. According to USDA projections, net farm income is expected to decline by 4.4% from 2023, following a 19.5% decline in 2022.

“This means producer’s income has plummeted 23% in just two years,” Tuberville stated, noting this represents over $40 billion in lost revenue for American producers.

He highlighted specific challenges faced by row croppers and catfish producers in Alabama due to rising production costs and falling prices. Tuberville criticized the Inflation Reduction Act, claiming it has negatively impacted American farmers by providing tax credits to foreign competitors.

“The Biden administration has control over our farm economy, but you hadn’t heard a peep out of them, not one peep about our farmers,” he said.

Tuberville called for immediate action to support farmers through legislative measures such as passing a new Farm Bill. He stressed that without timely intervention, many farms could face closure due to financial hardship.

“We need to pass a Farm Bill that helps our farmers,” he urged, expressing concern over delays caused by Democratic leadership in Congress.

Tuberville concluded by underscoring the importance of addressing agricultural issues promptly: “Even if a Farm Bill is passed today, producers wouldn’t receive any commodity program support from this Farm Bill until 2026.”

Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and serves on several committees including Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.