Capitol Hill Starting to Understand the Need for a Helping Hand

The current price environment is troubling. The concept of a bridge payment to help farmers carry on to this time next year, when provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill are gaining momentum. “We heard it from Senator (John) Hoeven, Senator (Kevin) Cramer, Representative (Julie) Fedorchak and at the White House that they are starting to understand,” said Mark Watne, president, North Dakota Farmers Union. With the U.S. market shut out from China, there is no way to replace that market. Even if the trade situation is resolved in the next few weeks, Watne said it won’t solve the current challenge. “I know it’s not warm and fuzzy to get disaster (assistance) again, but the reality is we’ve got to do something.” Twenty-two NDFU members were part of the nearly 300 participants in the National Farmers Union Fly-in this past week.