U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) supported the passage of the bipartisan Farm Bill Conference Report, which includes several provisions secured by Senator Tillis. The bipartisan report passed the Senate and will now head to the Housefor final passage.

“This year has truly been one of the most challenging in recent memory for North Carolina agriculture. From depressed commodity prices to a second devastating hurricane in two years, North Carolina farmers need the certainty and predictability that this bipartisan measure will provide,” said Senator Tillis. “I want to thank the Chairman for his leadership and commitment to delivering a bipartisan bill.”

Tillis-championed provisions in the Farm Bill include:

• Continued full funding for programs that help keep NC cotton and textiles competitive.
• $10 million in authorized funding for the newly established Rural Innovation Stronger Economy Grant Program (RISE) to create jobs in rural communities with additional provisions that allow investment in business incubators, makerspaces, and job training centers, and that expand access to capital for rural entrepreneurs.
• $300 million in funding for North Carolina’s livestock and poultry industries to adequately defend against and respond to the threat of foreign animal diseases.
• Improvements to crucial risk management tools, such as crop insurance, that allow North Carolina farmers to manage unpredictable risks such as adverse weather.

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