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Hawkins: more ad-hoc assistance being discussed

The president of the Missouri Farm Bureau says U.S. lawmakers continue to work on additional ad-hoc assistance for U.S. farmers.

Garrett Hawkins says Senators John Boozman and John Hoeven have a solution that could be a target for lawmakers to work toward.

“I’ve heard $16 to $17 billion, it’s a moving target, but it seems like it’s falling within that range.”

Hawkins says tells Brownfield the path forward for mor ad-hoc assistance remains unclear.

“There might be an emergency supplemental bill that folks on Capitol Hill are talking about, that maybe needed from another appropriations or spending bill standpoint.”

Hawkins says farmers are appreciative of the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program payments, which farmers are using to pay bills, but he says it only helps with a fraction of farmer’s expenses.

“We need to see sales overseas, right? That’s what we need, ultimately, and some improved domestic uses like year-round E15, that would be great when we think long term. But there is no easy way out of where we’re at.”

Hawkins and 68 other Missouri Farm Bureau members were in Washington D.C. this past week for an annual fly-in.