Davids Continues Farm Bill Listening Tour, Highlights Financial Support for Kansas Farmers
OTTAWA, KS– Yesterday, Representative Sharice Davids visited the Barnes Family Farm in Ottawa as part of her Farm Bill listening tour. After a tour of the family-run operation, Davids spoke with industry leaders and local farmers and ranchers about the importance of financial support through farm credit programs and crop insurance. Her tour will continue at farms, ranches, and businesses across the Third District as Davids considers the 2023 Farm Bill through her position on the House Agriculture Committee. The Barnes Family Farm produces wheat, corn, and soybeans.
"I'm on a listening tour throughout our community to bring Kansans’ Farm Bill priorities back to Washington, including the priorities of the Barnes family whom I chatted with today," said Davids. "I'm optimistic Republicans and Democrats will find common ground to pass a bipartisan Farm Bill that supports our entire food system and economy. That starts with listening to and understanding Kansans' daily experiences, from all corners of our district."
“We had the privilege of having Representative Sharice Davids join a discussion about the reauthorization of the farm bill and understanding Farm Credit’s mission focused on supporting farmers and ranchers today and tomorrow,” said Shane Tiffany, board member, Frontier Farm Credit. “Fulfilling our mission also means supporting rural Kansas with financial services to keep them thriving and growing. We are thankful Representative Davids hears our commitment, and also supports our Kansas producers.”
The Farm Bill is typically reauthorized every five years and includes provisions directly related to farm credit and crop insurance. The credit portion improves access to credit for producers to buy land and operate farms and ranches. The crop insurance portion enhances risk management tools to help protect farmers and ranchers against declines in crop yields and/or revenue. Along with local famers, representatives from Frontier Farm Credit, American AgCredit, and CoBank joined the roundtable to discuss their work supporting Kansas farmers.
As part of her Farm Bill listening tour, Davids previously visited a poultry and livestock operation in Anderson County, a co-op in Franklin County, a no-till farm in Miami County, an organic vegetable farm in Johnson County, and an educational community farm in Wyandotte County. Davids also toured a Garnett-based renewable ethanol producer, participated in FFA activities at Spring Hill High School, and served a school lunch at Black Bob Elementary in Olathe.
Last year, Davids hosted U.S. Department of Agriculture Undersecretaries Jennifer Lester Moffitt and Xochitl Torres Small for visits to the Third District to learn about the area’s meatpacking and dairy industries, respectively. She was also named a Friend of the Farm Bureau by the Kansas Farm Bureau in 2022.