Miss. Senator Attends Ceremony as Trump Signs Five-Year Bill Setting Policies to Support U.S. Agriculture, Rural Development & Forestry
U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) praised the enactment of the 2018 farm bill, which strengthens the safety net for Mississippi’s agricultural producers as they navigate market fluctuations amid trade tensions.
Hyde-Smith attended the White House ceremony at which President Trump signed into law the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, a five-year authorization of federal agriculture, nutrition, conservation, and forestry policies. Hyde-Smith, as a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, influenced policies in the measure, including commodity programs and crop insurance, rural development, rural health care, forestland resources, and chronic wasting disease.
“Producers in Mississippi and across the nation need this new farm bill to support their hard work to provide food and fiber for the American people and markets around the world,” Hyde-Smith said.
“Agriculture is the foundation of Mississippi’s economy, so getting these policies right for our producers is critical. It was also important to bring a new focus to the needs of rural communities to help them grow economically. I think this bill accomplishes that,” she said.
“I look forward to the implementation of the improvements in this bill to ensure a solid safety net is in place to help producers navigate the challenges posed by inclement weather, market changes and retaliatory tariffs,” she said.
Highlights of the new farm bill include:
- Strengthening commodity programs and protecting crop insurance
- Streamlining and funding to agricultural trade promotion initiatives
- Meeting next‐generation rural broadband needs
- Dedicating funds for rural health projects aimed at fighting opioid and substance abuse
- Increasing funding for research, extension service, and education
- Focusing on animal disease prevention and management efforts
Additional information on items of importance to Mississippi, including four provisions authored by Hyde-Smith, can be found here: http://bit.ly/2SKwVbL
Sarah Ulmer
