Senate Majority Leader Thune Coordinates Farm Bill Negotiations Targeting Agricultural Export Protections

WASHINGTON, DC — Senate Majority Leader John Thune held strategic consultations with Senate Agriculture Committee leaders on Sunday afternoon, formulating legislative provisions within the upcoming Farm Bill to shield American agricultural producers from foreign retaliatory trade actions.

Agricultural Export Defense and Market Assistance

Leader Thune, representing the major agricultural state of South Dakota, emphasized that the Senate's version of the five-year Farm Bill reauthorization will expand the Market Access Program (MAP) and the Foreign Market Development (FMD) program by $300 million annually. The funding assists American grain, beef, and dairy producers in opening non-traditional export destinations across South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia.

The legislative framework also enhances the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) statutory reference prices to establish higher baseline income safety nets for farmers facing sudden commodity price drops caused by foreign border tariffs.

"American farmers and ranchers are the backbone of our economy, and the Senate will ensure they have strong, modern safety nets to weather international trade disruptions," Thune said from Washington.

Cross-Border Commodity Flows

Midwestern farm bureaus expressed urgency regarding Canadian counter-tariffs scheduled for September 8, which target American ethanol, processed meats, and dairy products. Agricultural economists estimated potential export losses exceeding $2.4 billion if trade friction persists through the autumn harvest season.

Senate leaders from both parties indicated support for expediting the bipartisan Farm Bill text to the Senate floor in late September.

Committee Markup Schedule

The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee will finalize the markup of the Farm Bill reauthorization during the third week of September.