Yellowhammer Times

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama took part in a Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee hearing to consider Richard Fordyce’s nomination for Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation. The discussion focused on two bills introduced by Tuberville aimed at supporting farmers and livestock producers in Alabama.

One proposal seeks to add a producer who works with both livestock and crops to the Federal Crop Insurance Board of Directors. “There are four seats for producers, and we want one of those seats to be for a producer of both livestock and crops to provide a different perspective for various new livestock crops insurance products RMA (Risk Management Agency) is implementing. That’s my first one. Does that sound pretty good?” said Tuberville during the hearing.

Fordyce responded, “Yes, Senator. It actually does. It sounds like it makes some sense. […]”

Tuberville continued, “Now we’re from Alabama, and we can make some sense now. OK?”

Fordyce added, “So, I’m not backpedaling, Senator, but I think what I would need to do is understand exactly what the makeup is of the Federal Crop Insurance Board, but it sounds like a good idea to me.”

The second bill introduced by Tuberville would authorize a study into double and rotational cropping of winter canola in the Mid-South region as farmers in North Alabama and Tennessee begin growing winter canola for use in synthetic aviation fuel and diesel fuel production. “The second bill would authorize a study for double and rotational cropping of winter canola in the Mid-South region. This would gather data as farmers in North Alabama and Tennessee are starting to grow winter canola for synthetic aviation fuel and diesel fuel. All these bills get complex,” said Tuberville.

Fordyce replied, “I’m sure that is complex, but I am aware of the winter canola effort. And I would say that I would applaud the RMA for being responsive and having the ability to, you know, to evolve as things change. So, I would think that they would take a look at what kind of options might be available.”

Tuberville highlighted financial difficulties faced by farmers: “And as we all know, our farmers are in bad trouble. I have a lot of friends that are huge farmers, and they don’t know whether they’re gonna make it through the year, much less through this crop.”

He also discussed access to credit: “So, access to credit is becoming harder and harder. This year was really tough. We had to come up with some subsidies for some of the farmers to get them through this past winter to get another crop. Poultry producers are facing huge challenges, steep cost of poultry houses. $3.5 million for four houses. Can you discuss the importance of increasing our guaranteed loan limits to $3.5 million because of that?”

Fordyce noted his previous experience with farm loan programs: “Well, I was serving as the Administrator for the Farm Service Agency the last time the loan limits were raised. And I think it was welcomed certainly by the agency, and it was welcomed by the producers that the farm loan programs serve. And if that were the intent of Congress to raise those loan limits, I think that would be appropriate given the cost of things and the entry level costs of things.”

On feral swine eradication efforts funded under federal legislation supported by Tuberville—which included $105 million allocated through what he called "the Big Beautiful Bill"—he asked about progress on control efforts: “It’s going sky high. It’s not getting any cheaper…What’s your stance on the eradication program? You think we’re making progress?”

Fordyce shared Missouri's approach: “That would be tough for me to say. We do have those in Missouri as well.” He explained Missouri had stopped allowing hunting feral hogs because continued hunting seemed only to maintain their population.

Tuberville joked about sending Alabama’s surplus wild hogs elsewhere: “Well just let them know that us and Alabama will send you some if you need them…And we’re gonna send them to Senator Grassley in Iowa…”

Senator Tuberville serves on several committees including Armed Services; Agriculture; Veterans’ Affairs; Health Education Labor & Pensions (HELP); and Aging.