By KC Sheperd | Oklahoma Farm Report
As farmers and ranchers are businessmen and businesswomen, they need up-to-date information, said U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall.
“You cannot give a farmer or rancher too much information,” said Marshall (R-Kansas), in a recent interview.
Marshall said the Environmental Protection Agency is slow to adopt chemistry and new technology, and producers must keep up with the EPA for their own benefit.
“There are three carbon sinks out there, right, three big carbon sinks,” he said. “The ocean, trees and soil. So if you want me to continue to no-till farm on our ranch, then we need these chemicals to do that.
“I just don’t think many people with the EPA understand that you have to trade one for the other and see which is the maximum benefit. So, that is what we need to be sharing is that part of the story.”
Crop insurance
The main priority of many large ag groups is crop insurance, Marshall said.
“You just don’t live in Kansas and not have any experience to loss yourselves,” he said.
Marshall said the beauty of the farm bill is that it allows Americans to have affordable, reliable, safe food for generations. He said Americans have the luxury of paying close to 20% less for groceries because of crop insurance.
“That is the number one priority out here from everybody,” Marshall said. “I think that most people in the Ag Committee get that. I think it is important that we communicate that to other people, but again, realizing crop insurance is such a small part of this big budget here.”