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Hyde-Smith Presses for USDA Nominee Commitments to Help Farmers Until Stronger Safety Net Improvements Kick In
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) on Wednesday sought commitments from a nominee to use all U.S. Department of Agriculture authorities to be ready to help American farmers who continue to face serious economic headwinds.
Hyde-Smith sought the assurances during a confirmation hearing for Richard Fordyce, the nominee to be the USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC). Hyde-Smith praised recent legislative victories to help producers, including significant provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to provide reference price increases, crop insurance improvements, and disaster program updates.
“These legislative achievements handed a lifeline to the American farmers and ranchers,” Hyde-Smith said. “But the bottom line is this, American agriculture is not out of the weeds yet, as we well know. We know what the struggles are despite all of our best efforts. Times are still tough, and farmers are going to have to survive unfavorable conditions until much of the farm safety net improvements kick in.”
“With the current situation we’re experiencing in the farm economy, we must have an all-hands-on-deck approach to support our producers as we head into harvest season,” she added.
Hyde-Smith asked Fordyce whether he is committed to exploring “any and all authorities under USDA’s jurisdiction” to help farmers if they find themselves in situations where emergency support is necessary.
“You are exactly right. It is tough in farm country right now, and you laid out all the reasons why that is,” Fordyce said. “I would be supportive of looking at what authorities we might have at USDA, but certainly would love to partner with Congress, and understanding how both USDA, more specifically the FPAC mission area, could work together to find some solutions going forward.”
Hyde-Smith also submitted a question asking for Fordyce’s commitment to work with U.S. farm-raised fish producers, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and Agricultural Research Service to extend Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) payments for bird predation losses.
For the first time, the One Big Beautiful Bill extends ELAP to farm-raised catfish and other aquaculture operations, which often experience severe economic losses associated with bird depredation. Hyde-Smith has pushed for this ELAP expansion for years.
“Through the reconciliation process and after years of working on this issue, Congress is making producers of farm-raised fish experiencing losses associated with bird depredation eligible for ELAP. While this is a major win in helping our producers deal with this critical issue, it’s crucial that USDA implement this reform with clear, accessible, and producer-friendly guidance,” Hyde-Smith said.
Hyde-Smith also serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee and its Agriculture Subcommittee. The committee earlier this month approved the FY2026 Agriculture Appropriations Bill, which includes $1 million for APHIS to combat cormorants on Mississippi catfish operations.
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