Central Louisiana News

Congresswoman Julia Letlow, representing Louisiana's 5th District, has introduced a new piece of legislation aimed at providing economic support to farmers. The Farmer Assistance and Revenue Mitigation (FARM) Act, also known as H.R. 10045, is co-sponsored by Congressman Trent Kelly from Mississippi's 1st District. The bill seeks to address the financial challenges faced by farmers in Louisiana as they prepare for the upcoming lending season for the 2025 crop year.

The FARM Act proposes one-time assistance payments to help farmers manage debt related to the 2024 crop year and secure financing for the next year. This initiative comes in response to difficulties such as unpredictable weather conditions, increasing production costs, and lower than expected harvest yields.

"We wouldn't be able to function as a nation without our agriculture industry and the hardworking farmers who keep it running," stated Congresswoman Letlow. She emphasized that many farmers are nearing bankruptcy and require targeted assistance to continue their operations.

The proposed legislation includes provisions for economic assistance payments for eligible commodities like barley, corn, cotton, rice, soybeans, and wheat. It aims to support those whose revenues have fallen below production costs during the current crop year.

Letlow remarked that "the FARM Act isn’t just an economic relief measure; it’s an investment in the future of our agricultural industry." She highlighted its role in enabling farmers to pay off debts before entering another crop season.

Richard Fontenot of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation expressed his support: "Louisiana’s farmers desperately need the help the FARM Act would provide." He noted that local farmers are dealing with significant losses due to high input costs and low commodity prices.

Bobby Skeen from the LA Cotton & Grain Association also praised Rep. Letlow's efforts: "The LCGA is thrilled at the great work that went into developing the language included in the FARM Act." He described it as a necessary reprieve amid challenging times for many farming operations across America.