Central Louisiana News

This week, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy visited farmers in Port Allen and Jennings to discuss the upcoming Farm Bill and the needs of Louisiana's agricultural community. "Our farmers and fishermen produce the best sugarcane, rice, and seafood in the world," said Dr. Cassidy. He emphasized his commitment to protecting them from unfair foreign competition, maintaining affordable crop insurance, and preventing rising farming costs.

On Wednesday, Cassidy toured a sugar farm in Port Allen with Mr. Travis Medine, managing partner of Medine Farms. They discussed modern technology used in planting and harvesting sugarcane, which was Louisiana's second most lucrative commodity in 2023 according to the LSU AgCenter.

Cassidy also participated in roundtable discussions with farmers in Jennings and Port Allen on Tuesday and Wednesday. The main focus was on providing affordable crop insurance as part of the next Farm Bill. Other topics included hiring challenges, rural healthcare services, and overseas competition.

During his congressional tenure, Cassidy has advocated for Louisiana farmers by introducing legislation against dumping cheap products by China and India into the U.S., particularly affecting shrimpers and rice farmers. He questioned the U.S. Trade Representative on this issue during a Senate Finance Committee hearing last April.

Farmers have benefited from Cassidy's Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. In April last year, he announced over $1.5 million from the USDA for public schools, roads, and municipal services in rural areas where farmers work. Additionally, he secured $9 million for USDA/ARS Sugarcane Research facilities for Fiscal Years 2023-2024 with plans for another $7 million for Fiscal Year 2025.

While meeting with farmers in Port Allen, Cassidy was joined by Mr. Richard Fontenot of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation who recognized him as a Friend of Farm Bureau for his service to farmers. "This marks the eighth Congress in a row in which Senator Bill Cassidy has received the Friend of Farm Bureau Award presented by the American Farm Bureau," said Mr. Fontenot.

Farm income has decreased by 23% since 2022 with some Louisiana farmers facing consecutive years of losses due to high input costs and low commodity prices. "We're thankful Senator Cassidy took time to hear those struggles directly from Louisiana Farm Bureau members," added Mr. Fontenot.