U.S. Senate Committee on Judiciary

03/18/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/19/2026 15:47

Durbin Talks Farm Economy With Illinois Farm Bureau

March 18, 2026

Durbin Talks Farm Economy With Illinois Farm Bureau

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today met with members of the Illinois Farm Bureau to discuss the current state of the farm economy as the military attacks on Iran, directed by President Trump, and the standstill of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have increased expenses for diesel and fertilizer. Durbin and the members of the Farm Bureau also discussed the importance of transportation infrastructure, like locks and dams, expanding markets with permanent E15, more agricultural research, and preserving trade agreements with Canada and Mexico. They also discussed the disruptions and delays of the traditional five-year Farm Bill process in the current Congress that has left farmers waiting for a decision.

"I have never seen current policy issues in Washington come together like this against farmers," said Durbin. "With this tariff policy and war in the Middle East, the Trump Administration keeps asking farmers to carry more of the costs of their decisions. I will keep joining my farm-state colleagues in the Senate to block these policies and restore some common sense back into the farm economy."

Photos of the meeting are available here.

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