Date: 2016-06-14
Speaker: AUSTIN SCOTT (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Georgia

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to recognize Farm Credits 100th anniversary of supporting our rural communities and providing reliable credit to those in the agricultural industry throughout our country. Throughout this Congress. as the chairman of the House Agriculture Committees Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges. Energy. and Credit. I have worked with Farm Credit extensively. These interactions have reaffirmed what I already knew: the Farm Credit system is made up of dedicated Americans who understand the needs and champion the values of rural America. I am honored to represent Georgias Eighth Congressional District. most of which is farmland. A good portion of my constituents are farmers themselves or have family and friends who farm. Georgias Eighth District is home to roughly 15 percent of Farm Credit borrowers in the State of Georgia. I myself come from an agricultural background. as both sets of my grandparents were farmers. Farm Credit has met the credit needs of many of my constituents and maintains an active presence in south and middle Georgia. where we are leaders in Georgias agricultural production. For a century. Farm Credit has been providing our farmers. ranchers. and rural communities with the capital they need to build and grow successfully. The centennial anniversary coincides with a time when our agricultural industry is facing significant economic challenges. In the past few years. our farmers and rural communities have been faced with lower commodity prices. increased input costs. and unstable and inconsistent international markets. all of which are placing strains on our food producers and those who provide essential services to our agricultural industry. This not only affects the producers and manufacturers. but it also has a tremendous effect on the communities in which they live and work. A strong agricultural economy is essential to the health and vitality of the communities I represent in 24 counties across south and middle Georgia. During times like this. farmers in rural communities depend on Farm Credit. whose mission is focused on helping rural communities and agriculture grow and thrive. For example. in my home State of Georgia. young. beginning. and small farmers make up 72 percent of AgFirst Farm Credits customers. While these customers represent the future of the agricultural industry. they have entered into the industry at a difficult economic time. Our Nations farmers. young and old. embody the American ideals of hard work and dedication. and their commitment to providing the food and fiber for a growing nation and needy world remain steadfast. Alongside them. Farm Credits commitment to our agricultural future remains just as important as it was 100 years ago. Farm Credit is a critical provider of credit. not only to producers but also to the communities they live in. They are dedicated to supporting rural communities critical infrastructure needs such as access to clean water. efficient energy. sufficient healthcare facilities. and modern telecommunication services. Access to these essential services is critical to a thriving rural America. The future of our rural communities and the agricultural industry depends on a modern infrastructure. which requires access to affordable and reliable financing. Additionally. I want to thank my colleagues who are here today to offer a few words and to celebrate Farm Credits centennial. Rural communities in Georgias Eighth Congressional District as well as the districts across this country are stronger when their infrastructure needs are efficiently and effectively met. and Farm Credit is providing the capital with which this can be achieved. I want to say a special thankyou to my cohost for tonights Special Order. the ranking member of the Commodity Exchange. Energy. and Credit Subcommittee. my friend from Georgia