Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is working to help young Georgia farmers succeed.
Today, Sen. Ossoff launched a push to pass the Crop Insurance for Future Farmers Act of 2023, legislation he co-sponsored to strengthen access to crop insurance and to lower premiums for beginning farmers.
The bipartisan bill would extend beginning farmers’ eligibility for Federally subsidized insurance through the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) from the first 5 years of operating a farm or ranch to the first 10 years. The bill would also increase premium subsidies in the first 5 years of operation, making it easier for young farmers to grow their businesses.
“Georgia’s family farms are essential to America’s food security. Georgia needs more young farmers to sustain and grow Georgia agriculture. That’s why I’m working to unite Republicans and Democrats behind this bipartisan bill that would strengthen insurance options for new farmers,” Sen. Ossoff said.
According to a February report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), there are 23,085 Georgia farmers with 10 or fewer years of experience.
Sen. Ossoff continues working to support Georgia’s farmers and strengthen the state’s agricultural industry.
Last week, Sen. Ossoff and Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) introduced the Protecting Our Produce Act to boost resources and support for Georgia specialty crop growers facing unfairly priced imports.
Last month, Sen. Ossoff joined as the Senate co-lead of the bipartisan Temperature Endorsement for Multi-Peril Policies (TEMP) Act, a bill introduced by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) that would direct the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) to study the development of insurance policies for losses from frost and cold-weather events.
In May, following Sen. Ossoff’s bipartisan, bicameral push, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and USDA established a Seasonal and Perishable Agricultural Products Advisory Committee to help ensure Georgia farmers are at the table to address unfair trade practices by Mexican importers.
Click here to read the Crop Insurance for Future Farmers Act of 2023.
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