Op-Ed: 'I’ll have farmers' backs — Michigan Farm Bureau's AgriPac agrees'

Following his endorsement from Michigan Farm Bureau’s Agripac, Mike Rogers penned an op-ed in the pages of the Michigan Farm News outlining how he’ll have their backs as Michigan’s Senator in Washington.

In case you missed it…

Mike Rogers: 'I’ll have farmers' backs — Michigan Farm Bureau's AgriPac agrees'

Michigan Farm News

September 24, 2024

Michigan and American farmers are struggling at the hands of Washington’s laziness. As I write this today, Congress has once again failed to pass a new Farm Bill, which our farmers depend on to serve as a safety net and risk management tool through crop insurance.

In order to fuel America, farmers need access to funding and additional resources so they can operate their farms and feed their own families. None of this can happen without the Farm Bill and politicians in Washington are twiddling their thumbs.

All talk, no action. Just what we expect from D.C. politicians.

Today, Michigan farmers are suffering under the heavy hand of the Biden-Harris administration’s reckless spending agenda that fueled the high interest rates we see today. These sky-high rates are crushing family farms who must borrow money just to operate.

According to the President of the American Farm Bureau, interest costs for farmers totaled $35 billion in 2023, a $10 billion increase from the previous year. This is unsustainable.

Biden, Harris, and my opponent Slotkin created this crisis, wasting trillions of dollars and driving interest rates up that are now crippling Michigan's ag industry.

Everything costs more today. That includes the gas required to operate tractors and combines, and fertilizer to grow healthy plants. The truth is, market prices are not rising to meet these drastic cost increases, forcing Michigan farmers to lose sleep over how they will pay back their debts and keep operating.

Under Biden, Harris, and Slotkin’s policies, farmers are being forced to operate on even smaller margins and it is unclear when relief might come as Congress drags on passing the Farm Bill.

You would think with only two weeks left until the Farm Bill expires Washington would be hard at work to get one passed. You’d be wrong. In fact, the Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator Debbie Stabenow, is gallivanting around with Rep. Slotkin doing a “Thelma and Louise” tour, instead of passing a bill to help Michigan farmers.

Rep. Slotkin sits on the House Agriculture Committee, yet she has never voted for anything other than an extension of the current Farm Bill. She’s been in Congress for six years and hasn’t passed new legislation or proposed new amendments to help Michigan’s farming community. As usual, Slotkin is all talk and no action.

Michigan farmers are being driven over the cliff while Stabenow and Slotkin visit blueberry festivals. Our farmers deserve leaders who will have their back in Washington.

During my time in Congress, I voted to pass every Farm Bill because I understand and respect Michigan farmers. In my conversations with farmers across Michigan, I’ve heard loud and clear how important it is to get a Farm Bill passed.

When I’m elected to the U.S. Senate, I will get it done on time because I know these family farms are the backbone of our food supply and are crucial to Michigan’s economy.

Michigan is blessed with some of the most fertile farmland anywhere in the world and as Senator I will protect, defend, and help our farmers in Washington by bringing down operating costs, unleashing American energy to reduce fuel prices, and empowering Michigan’s farmers by passing a Farm Bill on time.

I’m honored to have earned the endorsement of the Michigan Farm Bureau’s AgriPac and farmers from across Michigan because they know I will always have their backs in Washington.

Learn more about Mike Rogers and his plan to Get America Back on Track at RogersForSenate.com.

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