Arkansas congressman proposes bill to give immediate relief to farmers

WASHINGTON – Arkansas Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-01) is prepared to introduce legislation to provide immediate relief to American farmers.

Crawford announced on Friday that he had drafted legislation jointly with Rep. Julia Letlow (LA-05) to bridge the so-called safety net currently proposed and set to take effect in October 2026.

Crawford and Letlow’s Bridge the Gap for Rural Communities Act, House Resolution 5710, will suspends the payment limitation for the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program and the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) program for the 2025 crop year and provides farmers the option to elect by December 1 if they want a 50% partial payment by the end of the year instead of waiting until October 2026, Crawford said.

The legislation will be introduced when the House returns to session.

Crawford spoke of the need for relief for farmers, citing USDA research showing seed expenses have increased by 18% between 2020 and today, fuel and oil expenses have increased by 32%, fertilizer expenses have increased by 37%, labor costs have increased by 47%, and interest expenses have increased by a staggering 73%. Meanwhile, major row crops are expected to suffer substantial losses, according to research by the American Farm Bureau, including projections of per-acre losses of $114.15 for soybeans, $111.64 for wheat, $169.31 for corn, $154.53 for rice, $379.00 for cotton, $159.95 for sorghum, and $173.39 for peanuts.

“Sadly, we have already lost farmers, and without action, we are on the precipice of losing many more,” Crawford said. “This bill is not a silver bullet, but it will give farmers and agriculture lenders breathing room as they work through operating loans for next season.”