Kenneth Hartman Jr.
NCGA President Calls for Bolstering Competitiveness to Address Economic Challenges
Washington, DC (February 5, 2025) - The president of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) told members of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee today that supporting corn competitiveness will help growers as they face high input costs and low commodity prices.
The remarks came as the committee fielded testimony from national ag leaders on the state of the farm economy.
“Despite record setting productivity, the value of corn production has dropped substantially but costs have not,” Illinois farmer and NCGA President Kenneth Hartman Jr. testified. “The average corn price farmers receive in the market has declined 40% from 2022 to now. Comparatively, the average cost to produce corn has declined by just 6%.”
Hartman highlighted a recently released NCGA report that identified six key targets for enhancing the competitiveness for U.S. corn, including developing new foreign markets, expanding consumer access to higher blends of ethanol and fueling innovation in new uses research.
In his testimony, Hartman also also called for a timely rollout of economic and disaster assistance from the American Relief Act and passage of a robust farm bill that includes NCGA’s priorities.
Addressing economic concerns and corn grower competitiveness are driving NCGA’s top policy priorities in 2025.
NAWG Testifies Before Senate Agriculture Committee During “Perspectives From the Field: Farmer and Rancher Views on the Agricultural Economy, Part 1” Hearing
Washington, D.C. (February 5, 2025) – National Association of Wheat Growers President and Altus, OK wheat, cotton, and pasture-land farmer Keeff Felty testified before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry during the “Perspectives From the Field: Farmer and Rancher Views on the Agricultural Economy, Part 1” hearing.
“As I enter my 40th year in farming, the agricultural economy is facing a severe downturn the likes of which we haven’t seen since the early 1980’s. We know you understand these challenges, and NAWG greatly appreciates the hard work that leadership and committee members played in getting economic and disaster assistance signed into law this past December,” said Keeff Felty. “That assistance is much needed across all of agriculture. However, long-term improvements to the farm safety net must be included as this committee, and Congress work to reauthorize the farm bill this year.”
Felty opened by talking about the first-ever multi-commodity fly-in held in Washington, D.C., last year. Producers and staff from all the major commodity organizations, plus Farm Credit and the American Bankers Association, went to Capitol Hill in a united effort to highlight the financial pressure building across American agriculture and urged Congress to pass a robust farm bill that strengthens the farm safety net. Felty also emphasized NAWG’s number one Farm Bill priority is protecting the crop insurance program. In discussing crop insurance, Felty told a story about a devastating hailstorm that took out one of his wheat crops last year. Crop insurance helped his operation remain viable and remains his first line of defense against natural disasters.
Felty also discussed NAWG’s request for Congress to make a meaningful increase in the wheat PLC reference price. The current wheat PLC reference price hasn’t changed since the 2018 Farm Bill, while crop inputs have increased by about 30 percent. The cost of production is expected to remain elevated in 2025 at roughly $386 per acre for wheat, and according to USDA projections, a wheat farmer is expected to lose approximately $96 per acre. Felty also mentioned how wheat growers play a vital role in feeding the world. Over half of the wheat grown in the United States goes to international markets.
“Increased input costs, high interest rates, and depressed commodity prices have created significant challenges for farmers in rural America. When looking at the commodity-level changes in farm income, wheat growers experienced a 43 percent decrease in net cash farm income from 2023 to 2024. That marks the lowest level in the last 15 years,” said Felty. “These conditions underscore the need for a strong, robust, and meaningful farm bill that provides long-term certainty as we proceed into the 119th Congress.”
As Congress continues to have hearings on programs authorized under the 2018 Farm Bill, NAWG looks forward to working with the members to help craft a Farm Bill that helps wheat growers and rural America thrive.
Read Keeff Felty’s written testimony or watch the hearing.
National Sorghum Producers Chairwoman Amy France testifies before Senate Ag Committee
Washington (February 5, 2025) — National Sorghum Producers Chairwoman (NSP) Amy France, a sorghum farmer from Scott City, Kansas, testified before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. During the hearing on Perspectives from the Field: Farmer and Rancher Views on the Agricultural Economy, Part 1, France discussed the financial challenges facing farmers, including rising production costs, extreme weather, and low commodity prices.
“Farmers are struggling with a combination of rising costs and unpredictable weather,” France said. “The current farm safety net is not enough. We need adjustments to Price Loss Coverage (PLC) reference prices and marketing loan rates to provide better support for sorghum producers.”
France also emphasized the importance of crop insurance, noting its crucial role in helping farmers cope with harsh conditions in the Sorghum Belt. She urged the Committee to strengthen the upcoming farm bill to ensure farmers' long-term stability and financial security.
Read France’s full testimony at SorghumGrowers.com and watch the hearing here.
NFU President Rob Larew Delivers Testimony to Senate Agriculture Committee, Highlights State of Agriculture and Policy Priorities for 2025
Washington, DC (February 5, 2025) – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew testified in front of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry to detail the current economic situation that family farmers and ranchers are facing.
President Larew emphasized the urgent need for a strong, fully funded farm bill in 2025 with policies to strengthen the farm safety net, invest in conservation and ensure fairness in agricultural markets. He also urged Congress to protect the Packers and Stockyards Act, support country-of-origin labeling and address trade policies that impact farm incomes. Discussing the uncertainty stemming from recent federal funding freezes, he stressed the need for clear, stable policies to support rural communities.
Here are President Larew’s full opening remarks:
“Thank you, Chairman Boozman, Ranking Member Klobuchar, and members of the committee. As a sixth-generation farmer from West Virginia, I am proud to be here representing family farmers and ranchers from across the country.
“According to the Census of Agriculture, we lost a staggering 140,000 farms in the last five years. The average farmer is now nearly 60 years old, and the next generation is too often locked out. The uncertain future of the farm and rural economy adds to anxiety in farm country.
“At the same time, farmers and ranchers receive only 15 cents of every food dollar. Consumers are paying higher prices at the store, while family farmers and ranchers are dealing with tight margins, few market options and increased financial pressure.
“We must confront these challenges head-on. We applaud the committee for quickly taking action this year to hear from us. The stakes are high—not just for farmers and ranchers, but for all the communities that rely on us. Passing a strong farm bill is a great place to start.
“We appreciated the efforts of Chairman Boozman and other committee leaders at the end of last year to ensure the passage of disaster and economic aid. We cannot afford a third extension of the 2018 Farm Bill. Congress must act quickly to pass a fully funded farm bill in 2025. This bill should strengthen the farm safety net and provide farmers with robust risk management tools, invest in voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs, support the next generation of farmers and keep the farm bill coalition together. But a strong farm bill alone is not enough—we also need open and fair agricultural markets.
“Farmers are the backbone of America, but too often we are being taken advantage of. As farmers we love competition, but often our only option is to buy from, and sell to, monopolies, resulting in higher costs, fewer choices and less innovation. We are not asking for a guarantee, just a fair shot.
“We have opportunities to make the system work for farmers, by protecting and strengthening the Packers and Stockyards Act, supporting mandatory country-of-origin labeling, like the American Beef Labeling Act, which was brought forward by Senator Thune, and ensuring farmers have the full and complete freedom to repair their own equipment.
“In addition to fairness at home, we must also consider fairness in global trade.
“American family farmers are often the first to suffer from trade disputes. Tariffs can be powerful when used in a smart way, but we’ve seen what happens when Washington gets it wrong: farm income drops, markets disappear, and costs go up.
“Congress should focus on expanding domestic and global markets, holding trade partners accountable and ensuring that trade policies are applied carefully to protect—not harm—American farmers and ranchers.
“Finally, recent executive actions are creating concern for farmers and communities—no one knows what funding will be available, or if key programs will have the staff needed to get funds out the door. Freezing spending and making sweeping decisions without congressional oversight just adds more uncertainty to an already tough farm economy.
“We encourage this committee to seek clarity from the administration and make sure farmers and rural communities aren’t left behind.
“The challenges facing family farmers and ranchers are daunting, but they are not insurmountable. A strong farm bill, fair markets and smart policies can ensure the next generation has opportunities in agriculture. Farmers Union is ready to work with you to make that a reality and deliver solutions that will give farmers a fair shot. The last few months I have traveled across the country visiting with family farmers about their challenges, and I look forward to sharing their stories as I answer your questions. Thank you.”