Boozman, Westerman to discuss farm bill

U.S. Sen. John Boozman and Rep. Bruce Westerman will host a discussion on the upcoming 2024 Farm Bill. The event will be held from 9-10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the University of Arkansas at Monticello’s agriculture building and it’s open to the public.

During this listening session, Boozman and Westerman will hold a panel discussion with agriculture and forestry stakeholders of Southeast Arkansas. The discussion will focus on learning how their issues and concerns can be addressed in the development of the 2024 Farm Bill, according to a news release.

The session is being hosted by the UAM College of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resources.

“As the largest contributor to the Arkansas economy through food crops, timber, and livestock, agriculture plays a crucial role in the state’s economy.

The U.S. Farm Bill has a significant impact on the agricultural and rural economies through its agricultural and conservation projects and nutrition programs,” according to the release.

“The Farm Bill is an extensive, multiyear law that governs an array of food, agriculture, and natural resource conservation programs. Initially, farm bills focused on farm commodity revenue supports, but over the years, the legislation’s programs have become increasingly expansive, particularly with the inclusion of the nutrition title in 1973. Typically reauthorized every five years, the most recent farm bill, the $428 billion Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, was signed into law in December 2018 and expires on Sept. 30, 2023,” according to the release.

Tuesday’s session provides an opportunity for area agriculture and forestry stakeholders to have their voices heard by their representatives in the development of the next Farm Bill.