Agriculture is a major industry across our great nation. In Ohio alone, the agriculture industry generates about one out of every seven jobs. 

On June 21, 2018, the House of Representatives passed the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, more commonly known as the Farm Bill. The Farm Bill reauthorizes our nation’s agriculture policy and must be signed into law every five years. I supported this legislation, and believe it will provide certainty to farmers in the future as they make planting decisions, implement twenty-first century agriculture innovations, and utilize conservation programs.

I have heard persistent concerns from farmers, especially young and reentering farmers, about access to capital and declining opportunities in the industry. For these reasons, I have consistently supported measures to provide relief to young farmers and others, such as veterans, seeking to start their careers here. For example, I have cosponsored legislation which would create a loan program within USDA to support mentorship and apprenticeship opportunities for veterans to become farmers or ranchers. I have also cosponsored a bill that would exclude the first $5,000 from the sale of agricultural projects at livestock shows from tax. This initiative would allow young farmers to keep more of their earnings.

Farmers have also expressed to me their concerns about federal overregulation and overreach.  The Obama-era expansion of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule would give the federal government regulatory control over “navigable waters,” which includes farm ditches, agricultural ponds, and wetlands on farms and ranches. This rule created ambiguity for farmers, and I have supported measures to clarify this regulation.

Agriculture Legislation of Note:

115th Congress

H.R. 637          H.R. 1626          H.R. 2853

114th Congress

H.R. 1732         H.R. 1105           H.R. 2042           H.R. 1599          H.R. 636          H.R. 1445

113th Congress

H.R. 2642