Senator Roger Marshall recently met with farm broadcasters, sharing his unique agricultural background and discussing key issues facing American farmers, including trade, mental health, and economic pressures.
Marshall began by recounting his upbringing on Kansas farms, highlighting the diverse agricultural practices and loyalties within his family. “I tell people I had a very confusing upbringing. I’d be fifth generation on my dad’s side and fourth on my mom’s side; both had 160-acre farms in Butler County, Kansas. Here’s the confusing part: the Marshalls had Fords and the Nelsons had Chevys. The marshals had round bales and the Nelsons had square bales.” He also shared formative experiences working at a cattle auction barn, where he learned valuable life lessons.
Addressing the current challenges facing farmers, Marshall emphasized the critical issue of mental health. “I want to talk about farmers’ mental health for a second. We’ve done several round tables over the years on this. I appreciate what Farm Credit is doing to help lead the way, as well.”
He urged broadcasters to raise awareness about mental health resources and recognize the signs of stress in their communities. “Be a message of hope. Tell them to just be a good neighbor, to recognize when your neighbor all of a sudden isn’t showing up for Sunday school, or maybe they’re not showing up for a ball game.” He highlighted the devastating impact of financial losses on multi-generational farms and the importance of reducing the stigma around seeking help.
Marshall also addressed the pressing issue of trade, particularly tariffs. “My message to the White House, and Secretary Rollins: Number one, we need to get some agreements done sooner rather than later to take some of the pressure off.”
He stressed the importance of finalizing trade agreements with Mexico, Canada, and Japan, noting their significance to the cattle and dairy industries. “Mexico and Canada have become our number one and two partners, replacing China, because of this good USMCA trade agreement, so we need to get those done. Japan would be good to get done as well. They are really important to the cattle industry in Kansas.”
He further advocated for policies to support domestic agriculture, including year-round E15, a strong farm bill, and the 45Z tax credit for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). “I would not underestimate the potential of 45Z to the agriculture markets. It could replace everything that we’re exporting. It could replace all of our exports, and we still wouldn’t have enough to make all the jet fuel we need out of our commodities.” He also acknowledged the Trump administration’s recent $10 billion aid package, emphasizing that farmers prefer trade over aid. “Again, we don’t want aid. We want trade.”
Regarding labor issues, Marshall highlighted efforts to eliminate taxes on overtime pay. “We are leading the charge on no tax on overtime. It was essentially so that we would let the first $10,000 of overtime each year, 20,000 for a married couple, not be taxed. That can mean $4,000 more in that couple’s pockets in a given year.” He also discussed the high cost of health insurance as a driving factor for farmers seeking second jobs.
Marshall addressed concerns about decoupling from China and potential support for producers affected by trade disruptions. “I think that no one should be surprised, and I’ve been encouraging people to decouple from China for years. You can’t count on them. I think it’s more complicated than just tariffs causing that.” He acknowledged the difficulty in finding immediate solutions for affected producers.
Concerning the impact of recent floods on wheat crops, Marshall reported generally positive conditions in Kansas. “We just did a 35-county tour over Easter, and it looks like a really solid wheat crop. North central Kansas has been in more of a drought, but I didn’t see anything flooded out then.”
Finally, Marshall reiterated his trade priorities, emphasizing the importance of agreements with Mexico and Canada. “To me, the most important would be our number one and two trade partners in agriculture, which are Mexico and Canada.” He also raised concerns about fentanyl trafficking from China through Canada, highlighting the need for border security.
