Idaho farmers and ranchers produce more than 140 different commodities. As a lifelong Idahoan and through my previous work on the Senate Agriculture Committee, I know the challenges facing families who make their living from the land and feed the world’s population. Congress should enact responsible legislation that protects this crucial industry and allows it to grow. Agriculture is a multi-billion dollar industry in Idaho and it is important for our farmers, ranchers, producers and growers that strong agriculture sector remain part of Idaho’s and America's economy.
Idaho’s agriculture community is influenced by a wide variety of factors that affect the costs of production. As a member of the Senate Finance and the Senate Banking Committees, I am able to advocate for the interests of Idaho’s agricultural community on important issues such as fair trade agreements and taxes. With 95 percent of the world’s consumers living outside the United States, any trade agreements negotiated must be mutually beneficial and provide increased market access for U.S. products and commodities and reduced tariffs. To keep Idaho’s agriculture strong, I am focused, as Ranking Member of the Finance Committee and member of the Banking Committee, on ensuring that our farmers and ranchers can access credit and the tools to manage financial risk and promote incentives to expand the transportation networks supporting all aspects of production and harvest.
The Farm Bill, which is typically reauthorized every five years and establishes our nation’s agriculture policy, offers prime opportunities to advance the needs of food producers in Idaho and across the country. Throughout my tenure in the U.S. Senate, I have advocated for strong Farm Bill provisions to ensure farmers and ranchers have a reasonable safety net to cope with the inherent risks associated with production agriculture. Additionally, I have championed Farm Bill provisions that meet the needs of key Idaho interests, including preservation of the U.S. sugar program, expanded research opportunities for specialty crops, and initiatives aimed at improving forest health. The Farm Bill also contains some of our nation’s primary conservation programs. Farmers depend on a healthy environment and providing the tools that preserve and enhance land and water resources have also been among my efforts to promote a thriving agriculture industry in Idaho.
Other key issues important to Idaho agriculture that I have been proud to work on and support include:
It is important that we in Congress work together to advocate for Idaho’s agricultural community on issues and regulations that prevent or restrict land use and water. Efforts at the federal level to increase control over Idaho’s water or resources should be rebuffed. Further, Congress must ensure that any regulation affecting our agriculture sector is driven by sound science and not personal agenda. These are the factors that guide my work to strengthen Idaho’s agriculture industry.
September 14, 2023
June 25, 2021
December 11, 2018
October 10, 2018
October 01, 2018
June 28, 2018
March 23, 2018
June 12, 2017
February 17, 2017
February 16, 2017
November 03, 2016
April 30, 2015
April 06, 2015
August 05, 2014
March 18, 2014
February 24, 2014
February 04, 2014
December 20, 2013
December 19, 2013
November 26, 2013
October 31, 2013
August 08, 2013
August 07, 2013
July 08, 2013
May 27, 2013
May 22, 2013
June 21, 2012
March 08, 2012
February 22, 2012
February 02, 2012
November 28, 2011
October 18, 2011
July 23, 2011
July 14, 2011
June 09, 2011
June 08, 2011
May 26, 2011
April 07, 2011
April 04, 2011
March 09, 2011
January 25, 2011
December 21, 2010
December 08, 2010
November 01, 2010
October 27, 2010
October 15, 2010
October 07, 2010
September 22, 2010
September 21, 2010
September 03, 2010
August 26, 2010
August 25, 2010
August 24, 2010
August 23, 2010
August 13, 2010
August 13, 2010
August 12, 2010
August 05, 2010
July 30, 2010
July 28, 2010
July 21, 2010
July 14, 2010
June 16, 2010
June 10, 2010
June 07, 2010
May 20, 2010
April 01, 2010
March 31, 2010
March 30, 2010
March 24, 2010
March 15, 2010
March 11, 2010
March 04, 2010
February 12, 2010
February 12, 2010
January 14, 2010
October 27, 2009
October 06, 2009
September 29, 2009
September 25, 2009
July 31, 2009
July 10, 2009
July 07, 2009
July 01, 2009
June 29, 2009
June 12, 2009
June 01, 2009
May 28, 2009
May 28, 2009
May 27, 2009
May 20, 2009
May 14, 2009
April 27, 2009
April 03, 2009
March 30, 2009
March 30, 2009
March 27, 2009
March 25, 2009
March 19, 2009
March 11, 2009
February 26, 2009
February 25, 2009
February 06, 2009
February 02, 2009
January 15, 2009
January 14, 2009
January 14, 2009
October 07, 2008
October 02, 2008
September 30, 2008
September 18, 2008
September 04, 2008
September 02, 2008
July 29, 2008
July 09, 2008
June 18, 2008
June 05, 2008
May 29, 2008
May 22, 2008
May 15, 2008
May 10, 2008
May 08, 2008
May 07, 2008
April 30, 2008
April 24, 2008
April 18, 2008
April 14, 2008
April 11, 2008
April 02, 2008
February 28, 2008
February 21, 2008
February 15, 2008
February 15, 2008
February 08, 2008
January 28, 2008
January 28, 2008
December 14, 2007
December 11, 2007
December 04, 2007
November 20, 2007
November 16, 2007
November 15, 2007
October 31, 2007
October 25, 2007
October 22, 2007
October 15, 2007
October 05, 2007
October 04, 2007
September 25, 2007
September 21, 2007
September 21, 2007
August 28, 2007
August 23, 2007
August 17, 2007
August 07, 2007
August 03, 2007
August 02, 2007
July 20, 2007
July 20, 2007
July 09, 2007
June 20, 2007
June 14, 2007
March 30, 2007
March 22, 2007
March 19, 2007
March 07, 2007
February 28, 2007
February 08, 2007
February 05, 2007
December 14, 2006
September 28, 2006
September 27, 2006
July 31, 2006
July 20, 2006
July 18, 2006
June 22, 2006
April 27, 2006
November 09, 2005
November 03, 2005
October 27, 2005
October 26, 2005
October 19, 2005
October 07, 2005
August 31, 2005
July 27, 2005
June 23, 2005
June 20, 2005
May 17, 2005
April 19, 2005
April 15, 2005
April 14, 2005
April 08, 2005
March 17, 2005
March 15, 2005
March 15, 2005
March 10, 2005
March 10, 2005
March 10, 2005
March 09, 2005
March 09, 2005
March 09, 2005
March 09, 2005
March 08, 2005
March 08, 2005
March 08, 2005
March 08, 2005
March 08, 2005
March 08, 2005
March 08, 2005
March 07, 2005
March 03, 2005
March 02, 2005
February 23, 2005
February 23, 2005
February 22, 2005
February 22, 2005
February 22, 2005
February 22, 2005
February 11, 2005
February 11, 2005
February 11, 2005
February 10, 2005