ARLINGTON, VA – Arkansas farmers Jeff Rutledge and Joe Mencer were in Washington earlier this month as part of a diverse group of ag leaders visiting with lawmakers to urge them to get the “2026 Farm Bill” across the finish line. Late on September 16, the final day of their visits, the Senate Agriculture Committee did advance the legislation out of committee.
This was, of course, a victory and a step in the right direction, though much work remains to be done. The legislation needs to be debated and pass the full Senate and then it needs to be reconciled with the House passed version – which is easier written than done.
“Chairman Boozman has worked tirelessly over the summer to make this legislation solution-oriented and we applaud him for it,” said USA Rice President & CEO Peter Bachmann. “However, lawmakers in both chambers and on both sides of the aisle should make no mistake – they must continue working in good faith to reach an agreement that can be signed into law before the end of the 119th Congress. Failure to do so will have far-reaching consequences on the country.”
The seriousness of the situation was driven home when Mencer and Rutledge stopped by the recently-completed studio of The Rice Stuff podcast here to share their experiences both on Capitol Hill that week, but also what they and their neighbors and colleagues are feeling in ag country.
“It was a very heavy conversation and Joe and Jeff made themselves very vulnerable,” said podcast co-host Caroline Slack. “It was also hopeful at times, but when Jeff likened the short-term, temporary fixes on long-term systemic problems to ‘a Band-Aid on a jugular cut,’ it really drove home just how dire the situation is. I hope everyone listens to the conversation and takes it to heart.”
The full discussion was posted on USA Rice’s podcast YouTube page and can be watched here.