Two congressional representatives from North Florida--Republican U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho and Democratic U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham--teamed up on Thursday to bring out a proposal to allow new farmers to share government equipment that isn’t being used.
Yoho and Graham, who both sit on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, unveiled the “AgShare Act” which “would create an equipment-sharing pilot program with the Department of Defense for new farmers to make use of the equipment and begin farming.”
Graham’s office noted the congresswoman got the idea from Jim Hill, a veteran she met during her farm tour across her North Florida district.
“Gwen listened to our concerns and now she’s working to help us,” Hill said. “This new program will be a hand up for new farmers like myself. It will make a way for people to come into farming who wouldn’t be able to otherwise. It will help revitalize American agriculture.”
The bill would ensure the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) works with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to “identify DOD equipment that would benefit farmers.”
Graham said DOD equipment would greatly benefit new farmers
“With an aging farmer population, there is a growing need to address agriculture’s obstacles to entry and find ways to help new farmers – and I heard firsthand from many beginning farmers that their biggest challenge is the high cost of equipment,” Graham said. “At the same time they’re struggling, the government is storing idle equipment that could be used for farming. This common sense bill would create an equipment-share program for new farmers to get on their feet and begin a career in agriculture.”
“So much is owed to our nation’s farmers,” Yoho said. “Never before has such a small number of Americans supplied so much to so many. With the percentage of people putting food on our tables getting smaller, more needs to be done to encourage a new generation to join the agricultural community. Leasing idle farm equipment is a common sense approach to helping new farmers manage their startup costs, while alleviating the debt burden of new equipment.”
While Yoho is working with Graham on this issue, he is backing a Republican hoping to challenge her in November. Yoho, who used to represent parts of the district, has thrown his support to businessman Jeff Moran in the Republican primary to take on Graham.
Moran kicked off his campaign on Saturday with Yoho‘s support.
“It is amazing to see so many friends and family members here today as we begin this journey,” Moran said. “I can’t thank you enough for being here. Back in 2012, I was inspired by my friend Ted Yoho who took on the establishment in Washington and stood up for the everyday people in our community. He defeated the Washington machine by creating a grassroots movement that carried him all the way to D.C. He has done some incredible things against all odds in Washington but he needs backup.
“We need real conservatives who are not a part of the political class,” Moran added. “As a business owner and former law enforcement officer, I bring a different perspective that I
believe is needed in Washington. It’s called common sense.”
“Jeff Moran knows what it is like to run a business and deal with government getting in your way,” Yoho said in a release sent out by the Moran team on Wednesday. “As a former police officer, he knows what it’s like to run into situations that most people are running out of. He is the guy that we need in Washington that will not only be the best representative for North Florida but will be a voice for common sense and conservatives across the country.”
Moran faces Panama City surgeon Neal Dunn and Tallahassee attorney Mary Thomas in the Republican primary.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
