February 18, 2025

Dear Georgian,

Farm families are the backbone of our rural economy and communities, and they deserve the best. I recently cosponsored the bipartisan Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act, which helps ensure they receive fair and accurate eligibility for student aid by restoring the decades-old standard that exempts the value of assets found on family farms and small businesses from being assessed as part of a family's net worth.

Our farm families should never be penalized for their critical work producing the food and fiber our nation depends on. As Vice Chair of the House Agriculture Committee, I will always stand up for rural America.

As always, my staff and I are here to help. If you need assistance with a federal agency or have comments or concerns to share with me, please do not hesitate to call my Warner Robins, Tifton, or Washington, D.C. offices. I encourage you to visit my website, like my Facebook page, follow me on YouTube, and follow me on X.

Keep reading for the full update.

Sincerely,

Congressman Austin Scott

Meeting with the Forest Landowners Association

Hurricane Helene caused mass timber damage across Georgia, economically hurting many of our state's private landowners.

I met with the Forest Landowners Association in my office in D.C. last week to get an update on recovery and hear their legislative priorities for the 119th Congress.

Advocating for our Farmers During the House Agriculture Committee's First Hearing of the 119th Congress

We have to put the farm back in the Farm Bill. When the farm economy declines, rural America suffers.

I raised the importance of prioritizing production agriculture during the House Agriculture Committee's first hearing of the 119th Congress last week.

Witnesses gave us personal insight into the state of the farm economy and the challenges our farmers face today.

Watch my committee remarks here.

Discussing Tax Cuts on Mornings with Maria

RFD-TV | Do you think the Farm Bill should be shortened from the five-year authorization? Some lawmakers say yes

"The ag community is still operating on the 2018 Farm Bill, and farmers say the reference prices from that legislation are outdated.

One lawmaker wonders if the ag legislation should be shortened from its current five-year authorization.

'The reference price no longer reflects the cost of production for farmers, and I will tell you, I’m concerned that they’re moving so fast, that I truly think after this Farm Bill, we probably need to get to a three-year cycle, not a five-year on the Farm Bill because of the speed at which things are changing,' said Rep. Austin Scott.

House Ag Committee Chair GT Thompson had a strong warning about the situation.

'There has never been a time where there has been such a bleak outlook over the next five years for the represented farms with every single major commodity deep in the red. Producers deciding what to plant this year aren’t thinking about what rotation is likely to make money, but rather what crops will cause them to lose the least.'"