With the upcoming winter season, propane has been in high demand. It is vital that our Hoosier farmers - who have already experienced significant planting delays from the extreme spring weather - have uninterrupted access to propane. That is why I led a letter with the entire Indiana delegation to USDA encouraging improvements in the propane supply pipeline.
Free trade between the U.S., Mexico and Canada is vital for Indiana farmers, many of whom rely on selling to foreign markets. I’m pushing to bring USMCA – the new, improved trade agreement with our neighbors – to a vote since 95 percent of our farms in the state of Indiana are family farms. This is about saving our rural communities.
In October, I led a letter signed by members of Indiana’s Congressional delegation to President Trump and Vice President Pence expressing concern with efforts to block production of bioengineered salmon, an action that would negatively impact the state of Indiana and the future of biotechnology. Bioengineered salmon was developed by AquaBounty Technologies, which has started production at a land-based aquculture facility in Albany, Indiana.
I was a strong supporter of the 2018 Farm Bill to ensure America’s farmers, agricultural suppliers, and rural communities are equipped for new challenges and opportunities. Several measures I supported were included in the final, enacted legislation, including:
- The bipartisan Fruit and Vegetable Planting Flexibility Act (S. 2263), which allows farmers more freedom in the planting of produce on commodity ground.
- A bill I introduced, the Growing American Food Exports Act (S. 3103), which designates authority and funding for the Foreign Agricultural Service, will ensure that crops using new agricultural technologies can be exported around the world.
In the 2019 spring season, Hoosier farmers experienced prolonged rains, which affected their ability to plant corn and soybeans before the crop insurance deadlines passed. I, along with members of the Indiana delegation, sent two letters to USDA calling for clarity on disaster guidance and requested a disaster designation in 88 counties. During uncertain times, it is important that we support our Hoosier farm country and provide the proper tools to improve risk management.
I worked to ensure the National FFA Organization continues to modernize and be a leading organization in developing the future generations of agricultural leaders by introducing the National FFA Organization’s Federal Charter Amendments Act (S. 112),which President Trump signed into law on February 21, 2019.
I fought for Indiana livestock producers by co-sponsoring and ensuring passage of the Fair Agricultural Reporting Method (FARM) Act (S. 2421), which preserves the agricultural exemption for reporting animal waste emissions.
