Pulaski Times

U.S. Senator John Boozman, a key member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, has called for urgent economic support for farmers who are struggling with financial losses. Speaking in Washington, Boozman highlighted the difficulties faced by agricultural producers due to increased input costs, high interest rates, and low commodity prices.

Boozman stated that many farm families are ending 2024 with negative cash flow. "For some producers, this is the second or third consecutive year of negative cash flow," he noted. He emphasized that these conditions threaten the survival of family farms across America.

The senator pointed out that row crop farmers nationwide are projected to lose over $29 billion by the end of November. Specific losses include more than $11 billion for corn growers and $5.7 billion for soybean producers. Other commodities such as cotton, sorghum, rice, and peanuts also face significant financial challenges.

Boozman shared an example from Arkansas where a farmer achieved his best crop yield but still suffered financially due to low commodity prices. The senator stressed that even those not experiencing severe losses in 2024 remain concerned about poor margins forecasted for 2025.

Farm groups have echoed Boozman's concerns. Nathan Reed from the Agriculture Council of Arkansas described current conditions as "virtually impossible to net anything but a significant loss." Meanwhile, established farmers are hesitant to risk remaining equity while new farmers lack necessary capital.

Despite acknowledgments from USDA regarding hardships caused by natural disasters, Boozman insists federal assistance must be provided swiftly to address market losses effectively. He urged Congress to act before year-end to ensure financial stability for farmers in 2025.

In recent discussions with agricultural organizations like the Texas Farm Bureau and USA Rice, Boozman reported widespread concern about securing credit for future crops without congressional intervention.

"We need to provide producers with certainty and predictability," Boozman asserted. He warned that without appropriate action from Congress, many producers might not survive into next year.