As a family farmer, I understand the challenges faced by those who work tirelessly to feed and fuel our nation. Growing input costs, higher diesel prices and inflation are making farming harder. Passing on the farming tradition to my children and teaching my grandkids the value of hard work on the farm is something my husband and I hold dear.

It is my great honor to represent my fellow farmers and the agriculture industry on the House Agriculture Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives. I’m pleased the committee recently passed a five-year Farm Bill that promotes trade, supports crop insurance and protects the farm safety net.

Over the past year and a half, I have had multiple Farm Bill round tables and had the chance to talk with many farmers across the district about their priorities for the 2024 Farm Bill. I have been very grateful to receive your feedback on the current programs and am pleased that many of our priorities made it in the bill. This includes maintaining a robust crop insurance program and increasing funding for the Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD).

The House Farm Bill also supports producers by increasing reference prices, strengthening rural broadband, funding the modernization of agriculture research facilities, and improving standing disaster programs and access for livestock. I am excited about provisions in the energy title requiring the Administration to study the impacts of solar panel installations on prime farmland. This study, which incorporates concepts from my bill, the Preserving America’s Farmland Act, includes estimating the loss of agricultural production from solar panel installations.

I am very concerned with America’s prime farmland being covered with solar panel installations. Food security is national security, and if we cover our prime soil with solar panels, we will become dependent on our adversaries to feed American families.

As a soybean farmer myself, I also know how important biofuels and bio-based markets are for our products. That is why I was happy the Farm Bill included the reauthorization and improvements to the BioPreferred Program, which encourages the purchase and use of bio-based products, and affirms sustainable aviation fuel as an advanced biofuel. Biofuels not only provide a critical market for our crops but increase America’s energy independence and strengthen our national security.

I am committed to continuing through the Farm Bill process and swiftly passing a bill out of the House that prioritizes protecting family farms.