Good afternoon, and thank you, Chairman Scott, for convening this important hearing.

Kansas is home to more than 55,000 farms, and agriculture remains the number one economic driver in our state.

When I speak with Kansas producers, one issue consistently rises to the top: the importance of the farm safety net.

Since Congress last passed a full, bipartisan Farm Bill in 2018, the landscape for producers has changed dramatically.

Farmers and ranchers are facing high input costs, rising interest rates, supply chain disruptions, and market volatility driven by tariffs and global uncertainty.

These pressures make programs like crop insurance and access to affordable credit – especially through USDA’s credit programs – more critical than ever.

That’s particularly true for beginning farmers and those in underserved communities who are trying to break into agriculture at a time when the average age of a Kansas producer is nearly 60 years old.

Kansas producers have always been resilient – adapting through challenges like the Dust Bowl, droughts, and now climate change.

But resilience requires partnership.

It’s our job to be that partner and ensure the risk management tools farmers rely on are strong, accessible, and responsive to their needs.

I want to thank today’s panel of witnesses for being here and sharing your insight.

Your experiences are critical to helping this Committee ensure that federal agriculture policy works for all farmers – new and experienced, large and small, in every corner of the country.

With that, I look forward to your testimony. Thank you again, Chairman Scott, and I yield back.