Agriculture
Agriculture is vital to economy in Southern Illinois. The 12th district is the most diverse district in terms of agriculture in the State of Illinois, and I am proud to represent the more than 10,000 producers in our district with my position on the House Committee on Agriculture.
Our district is more than corn and soybeans, agricultural diversity can be seen throughout the district. The 12th district produces more than half of the horse radish in the United States. Rice, specialty crops, orchards, vineyards, livestock, and dairy can be found almost everywhere you look giving residents in Southern Illinois access to some of the best tasting wines along with fresh fruits, vegetables, pork, and beef right in their own back yard.
Protecting our agricultural economy is vital to the sustainability of our rural areas. For that reason, I am actively working on increasing rural broadband access for residents and businesses and increasing the accessibility of credit to our new and beginning farmers and ranchers so they can continue the agricultural heritage Illinois is famous for. I will continue to work to make sure the 2014 Farm Bill is being implemented within the scope of the law and work with my colleagues and grass root agriculture organizations to find new ways to reduce regulatory burdens that dampen the sustainability production agriculture.
For those involved in agriculture, it is a very expensive endeavor to see a crop through from planting to harvest. That is why I am committed to maintaining the safety net for producers that the 2014 Farm Bill established. Furthermore, I know the bounty that Southern Illinois can produce and I support efforts the United States Department of Agriculture has made in making sure food security is available to those who need it the most.
While there are still several years to go until a new Farm Bill will be discussed, Congress is not wasting any time doing full-scale reviews of every program to find out what is working and what isn’t in order to be better stewards of tax payer dollars.
If you have any questions regarding agriculture policy, please feel free to contact my Washington, D.C. office at 202-225-5661
More on Agriculture
December 12, 2018
Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) today voted for the House-Senate compromise Agriculture and Nutrition Act (H.R.2), commonly known as the Farm Bill. The House legislation, which authorizes agricultural and nutrition policy for the next five years, includes provisions Bost introduced to aid beginning farmers in growing their operations and help existing farmers enhance their nutrient management practices.
October 24, 2018
Press Release
U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) today held a forum with farmers after a tour of Eckert’s Orchard in Belleville, IL along with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue. They discussed agriculture issues and ways to improve the farming industry in Southern Illinois.
October 1, 2018
Press Release
U.S Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) made the following statement after President Trump announced that the United States, Canada and Mexico have reached an agreement on the renegotiated NAFTA, now formally known as the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA):
September 13, 2018
Press Release
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that strengthens infrastructure at America’s ports, locks, dams and waterways. Included in the Water Resources Development Act was a provision introduced by U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (IL-12) to help rebuild Alexander County’s Len Small Levee, which was breached during the holiday floods of 2016. The final package is expected to be passed by the U.S. Senate and signed into law by the president in the coming weeks.
July 24, 2018
Press Release
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced it will take several actions to assist farmers while the administration challenges unfair foreign trade practices. USDA will authorize up to $12 billion in programs, which is in line with the estimated $11 billion impact of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural goods. These programs will assist agricultural producers to meet the costs of disrupted markets.
June 21, 2018
Press Release
U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) today voted for the Agriculture and Nutrition Act (H.R.2), commonly known as the Farm Bill. The House-approved legislation, which authorizes agricultural and nutrition policy for the next five years, includes provisions Bost introduced to aid farmers in Southern Illinois.
June 7, 2018
Press Release
The House of Representatives late Wednesday night passed bipartisan legislation to strengthen America’s ports, locks, dams, and water infrastructure. The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which now heads to the Senate for further consideration, also included an amendment offered by U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) to facilitate the repair of Len Small Levee in Alexander County.
May 30, 2018
Press Release
U.S. Representatives Mike Bost (IL-12) today hosted a “Tailgate Talk” at Otten Farms in St. Clair County. He provided an update on the Farm Bill to Southern Illinois farmers and received feedback on current issues facing the agriculture industry.
May 18, 2018
Press Release
United States Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) released the following statement after the House of Representatives failed to pass the 2018 Farm Bill. The comprehensive legislation would authorize policy under the purview of the United States Department of Agriculture and is renewed every 5 years.
February 15, 2018
Press Release
Today, Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) and Representative Darren Soto (D-FL) introduced bipartisan legislation, the Nutrient Management Technical Service Provider Certification Act, to expand options for agriculture producers to access nutrient management technical assistance. This bill would allow qualified individuals, including Certified Crop Advisors or Certified Agronomists, to act as Technical Service Providers for nutrient management.