Fischer on Senate Floor: Ag Producers Urgently Need Lasting, Long-term Solutions

For all ag producers, the word "tariff" makes us nervous. But earlier this year, I took a step back to look at the bigger economic picture. I became one of the first members of Congress to support the administration's effort to level the playing field on trade.

I've said many times that the administration deserves time to secure strong trade deals that benefit Americans. However, the reality is this: farmers are targeted by other countries like China. I've seen it firsthand back home in Nebraska.

Producers of corn, soybeans, and other top commodities are under crushing pressure. Rising input costs and uncertainty have driven farm finances to levels reminiscent of the 1980s crisis, which bankrupted thousands and hollowed out rural communities. Since 2020, seed costs have jumped 18%. Fuel and oil are up 32%. Fertilizer has spiked 37%. And interest expenses have surged an alarming 73%.

Our soybean producers are projected to lose about $100 an acre this year. On top of that, storage costs for soybeans and corn have risen steeply. For everyone, this is crippling - and it's happening during one of the largest harvests in memory.

M. President, time is running out. We need to turn this around. We need a strong, positive action.

Ensuring our farmers can weather tough economic times must be a national priority. It's clear farm aid is needed at this time.

Congress has taken some steps toward this goal. We passed $10 billion in farm aid last December and included a major boost for producers in July's reconciliation law. However, that money won't reach farmers until next fall. Producers need relief now.

But here's the challenge: we also need lasting, long-term solutions that help provide stability and real opportunity for ag producers.

That's why one of the fastest ways we can deliver results is by unlocking year-round access to E15 - a clean, American-made biofuel. Permanent nationwide access would increase corn demand by 2.5 billion bushels a year. It would lower gas prices for families. And it would drive new revenue into rural communities. President Trump's Day 1 order to promote E15 through his National Energy Emergency Declaration was a strong start, but temporary fixes won't cut it.

That's why I reintroduced my Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act earlier this year. When I first introduced this bill nearly a decade ago, it felt like an uphill climb.

Today, momentum is finally on our side. We have strong bipartisan support. We have new industry partners, including members of the oil and refining sector at the table. This is a key piece of Republicans' plan to lower energy costs, to strengthen American production, and to give consumers more choices at the pump.

Trade is the other half of the equation. Former President Biden's lack of a clear trade agenda left America with a $49 billion trade deficit, undercutting farmers in Nebraska and across the country. President Trump: you can help reverse that deficit by holding China accountable and ensuring American-grown soybeans have access to global markets - a lifeline for farmers facing losses this harvest season.

President Trump has already made progress on this trade front. Take beef: Australia has sold nearly $29 billion worth of beef to U.S. consumers, while American ranchers have been locked out of their market. Now we need the same kind of breakthrough for soybeans, corn, and every other American crop.

At the end of the day, farmers and ranchers want programs that work and markets to sell their products.

M. President - simply put, they just want a fair shot.

By securing strong trade deals and building new markets through year-round E15, we can revitalize the farm economy, bolster U.S. energy security, and ensure America's producers can keep feeding and fueling this nation for generations to come.

Thank you, M. President. I yield the floor.