KFGO

By Sarah Heinrich

Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) this week led a bipartisan, bicameral effort urging U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack to provide support and certainty to producers facing disruptions in spring planting due to excess moisture. The senators made the case for Vilsack to offset any loss in the crop insurance guarantee for producers that are unable to get into the field until after the final planting date, citing the slow pace of planting nationwide and stressing the need to incentivize greater U.S. agriculture production to help address global food security needs.

Those joining Hoeven and Klobuchar in this effort include Senators Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Representatives Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.), Michelle Fischbach (R-Minn.), Angie Craig (D-Minn.) and Pete Stauber (R-Minn.). The full text of the letter can be read here.