Warner Robins Today

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Austin Scott (GA-08), Vice Chair of the House Agriculture Committee and Chairman of the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit, issued a statement following the passage of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 (Farm Bill) by the House Agriculture Committee.

"Agriculture is Georgia's number one industry, and this Farm Bill is a win for Georgia's farmers and producers," Rep. Scott stated. "As Vice Chair of the House Agriculture Committee, I am pleased that several of my priorities to ensure a strong farm safety net were included in this legislation, and I appreciate the bipartisan support for final passage through committee.”

Chairman Glenn "G.T." Thompson (PA-15) commented on the collaborative effort behind the bill: "The House Committee on Agriculture has worked exhaustively to craft an effective Farm Bill that meets the needs of our hardworking farmers, revitalizes rural America, and strengthens our national security. Thank you to Vice Chairman Scott for his leadership throughout this process. I am confident that the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 will provide certainty to producers and consumers in Georgia and across the nation."

Key priorities included in Rep. Scott's contributions to the legislation are:

- **Improving the Farm Safety Net:** The bill enhances reference prices for Price Loss Coverage Program (PLC), increases coverage for Agriculture Risk Coverage Program (ARC), and modernizes Marketing Assistance Loan (MAL) rates.

- **Improving Crop Insurance:** It boosts research and development in crop insurance, expands area-wide coverage options, provides premium discounts for new farmers, and improves program administration.

- **Addressing Seasonal Crop Revenue Losses:** The USDA Secretary must report to Congress on foreign policies affecting specialty crop exports or competitiveness with domestic producers.

- **Expanding Specialty Crop Insurance:** Title XI establishes a specialty crop advisory committee and modifies Whole Farm Revenue Protection to expand coverage.

- **Combatting Foreign Influence:** The bill codifies recommendations from a GAO study on Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA), imposes penalties for non-compliance with AFIDA filings, requires reporting on agricultural land owned by entities tied to adversarial nations like China and Russia, and establishes an electronic filing system.

- **Ensuring Access to Risk Management Act Inclusion:** Corrects funding flaws affecting risk management delivery for specialty crops when larger row crops have higher commodity prices.

- **Market Access Expansion:** Increases funding levels for Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development Program (FMD).

- **Rural Broadband Funding:** Integrates ReConnect Program into Rural Broadband Program with dedicated funds prioritized for unserved rural areas.

- **Adjusted Gross Income Thresholds Adjustment:** Creates exceptions within disaster programs for producers earning over 75% income from farming activities.

- **Conservation Programs Continuation:** Maintains voluntary conservation programs with historic investments reallocated from Inflation Reduction Act dollars while removing climate sideboards.

- **Farmland Conversion Prevention:** Limits conversion of private forestland or prime farmland into solar installations based on H.R. 7923 SOLAR Act provisions.

- **Research Funding Increase:** Supports research facilities at land grant institutions with expanded interagency collaboration.

- **Streamlining FSA Lending:** Expands E.Z. Guarantee Loan program at USDA allowing lenders faster turnaround times in exchange for lower guarantees.

- **Loan Size Limit Increases:** Raises limits on various FSA loans including Guaranteed Operating Loans up to $3 million.

- **Forest Management Reforms:** Includes comprehensive reforms supporting public-private partnerships in forest management.

The bill also funds the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program at $100 million annually—an increase from previous allocations—and mandates state consultation with specialty crop producers during program implementation planning.