Pulaski Times

U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman John Boozman recently welcomed Ben Noble, an agribusiness leader from Arkansas, to testify before the committee. The focus of the hearing was on the challenges facing rural communities and the significance of risk management tools and access to credit for farmers and rural businesses.

Ben Noble is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Riceland Foods, a farmer-owned cooperative based in Stuttgart, Arkansas. During his testimony on Tuesday, he emphasized the critical need for financing among farmers.

“As I sit here today, farmers are making planting decisions due to the extended lending cycle," Noble stated. He highlighted that financial institutions are striving to support farmers during this growing season but noted that uncertainty persists within the system. "Planting decisions and seed purchases are often made months before now," he added. Due to some farmers' inability to secure financing, productive farmland might remain fallow this year, potentially reducing rice, soybeans, corn production, and other commodities in their region.

Noble also shared personal insights into the economic difficulties faced by family farms. “I’m also the son of Buddy Noble and brother of Andy Noble who own and manage Noble Farms,” he said. He revealed that due to high input costs and lack of profitability over several years, his family has decided not to continue farming in 2025 for the first time since 1890.

Chairman Boozman has been advocating for an updated farm bill aimed at enhancing farm safety nets and risk management tools essential for producers. In December, Boozman led efforts in securing market assistance for agricultural communities through USDA programs intended to help with 2025 operating loans.

“If we expect current and future generations of producers to not only survive but thrive," Boozman remarked in his opening statement, "we need to pass a strong five-year Farm Bill this year."