March 29, 2024

Durbin discusses farm and rural issues

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, met with Illinois representatives of the farm credit system.

The group thanked Durbin for his support of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement and discussed the nationwide increase in farm bankruptcies, the importance of federal support for crop insurance during a tough 2019 crop year and the need for more infrastructure investments in rural communities.

“Building a stronger future in rural Illinois starts with restoring economic certainty for Illinois farm families and expanding investments in rural Illinois towns, like broadband, transportation and health care,” said Durbin, D-Illinois.

“Today I heard from important Illinois lending institutions that are helping farmers and other rural stakeholders obtain the financing necessary to make these investments in their future.”

The American Farm Bureau Federation reported farm bankruptcies rose almost 20% in 2019.