WASHINGTON, D.C. — North Dakotan's Congressional Delegation of Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and Representative Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.), along with Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) this week led a bipartisan, bicameral effort urging U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack to provide support and certainty to producers facing disruptions in spring planting due to excess moisture. The senators made the case for Vilsack to offset any loss in the crop insurance guarantee for producers that are unable to get into the field until after the final planting date, citing the slow pace of planting nationwide and stressing the need to incentivize greater U.S. agriculture production to help address global food security needs.
“Farmers across our states are struggling to plant crops as a result of significant late spring precipitation,” said the senators. “Under current policies and absent a dramatic improvement in weather conditions, unplanted acres in our region will be significant. These delays come at a time of great concern for global food supplies. USDA’s May 12th World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) show global wheat stocks tightening due to the war in Ukraine and weather challenges in the U.S. Additionally, India’s recent decisions regarding wheat exports continues to disrupt markets and adds uncertainty to global supplies. Leaving thousands of acres unplanted across the Upper Midwest will worsen this already perilous situation.”
Those joining Hoeven, Cramer, and Klobuchar in this effort include Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Representatives Michelle Fischbach (R-Minn.), Angie Craig (D-Minn.) and Pete Stauber (R-Minn.). The full text of the letter can be read here.
