Western South Dakota News

U.S. Senators John Thune and Amy Klobuchar have reintroduced the Crop Insurance for Future Farmers Act, aiming to make crop insurance more affordable for young farmers and veterans. This bipartisan bill proposes to extend the beginning farmer and rancher crop insurance premium discount from five years to ten years. It also seeks to align these programs with other beginning farmer initiatives under the United States Department of Agriculture.

Senator Thune emphasized the importance of investing in future generations of farmers and ranchers, noting that "crop insurance is the cornerstone of the farm safety net." He expressed pride in leading legislation that aims to enhance its effectiveness by offering more affordable options during their initial decade of operation.

Senator Klobuchar highlighted the inherent risks involved in starting a farm, even under favorable conditions. She stated, "Our bipartisan legislation will support these new farmers, along with our nation’s veterans, by ensuring that they have access to affordable crop insurance." The expansion of this program is intended to provide necessary certainty as farmers build their operations and grow their businesses.