Central ND News

Senator John Hoeven has announced that he will once again serve as chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee. Having served as the lead Republican on the committee since 2017, Hoeven previously held the chairman role during the 115th and 116th Congresses.

"The hard work of our farmers and ranchers provides a solid foundation for North Dakota’s economy, while ensuring Americans continue to benefit from the lowest-cost, highest-quality food supply in the world," stated Hoeven. "My role on the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee has been a tremendous opportunity to address the needs of our producers, agri-businesses and rural communities. I look forward to serving as chairman once again, where I will continue working to provide the tools and resources needed to support a strong ag economy, while advancing new innovations and market access to give our producers a competitive edge in the global economy."

In his capacity as chairman, Hoeven plans to further critical priorities for farmers, ranchers, and rural America through annual funding legislation. Key initiatives include advancing disaster assistance worth $33.5 billion that was secured for producers in recent year-end legislation. Additionally, he aims to bolster support for agricultural research efforts such as precision agriculture projects led by Grand Farm, North Dakota State University (NDSU), and their partners.

Hoeven is also focusing on establishing an agriculture policy research center at NDSU. Ensuring access to credit for producers is another priority to help them manage operations effectively amid various challenges. Improving foreign market access for producers and agri-businesses is on his agenda too.

Further goals include enhancing transparency and competition in cattle markets via his Cattle Contract Library Pilot Program and providing regulatory relief aimed at reducing costs for producers while keeping programs voluntary and farmer-friendly.