Looking to take Kentucky farming concerns back to Washington, D.C., Sixth District U.S. Congressman Andy Barr gathered with agriculture giants at Hopkinsville’s H&R Agri-Power Monday afternoon, and used it as a launching platform for his “Barr For Senate” Agricultural Advisory Committee.
In the short term, he hopes the coalition brings agrarian leaders from all 120 counties together, and creates a voice worthy enough to carry weight on Capitol Hill.
In the long term, he wants the newly-formed organization to find some perpetuity across the Commonwealth — as voices with impetus and issue.
Barr’s two council co-chairs are none other than H&R’s magnate Wayne Hunt and Hinton Mills’ Adam Hinton, of Flemingsburg, and many other dominoes are expected to follow their lead.
Offering his endorsement, Hunt said he believes Barr will continue the efforts pressed forth from Senator Mitch McConnell over the last four decades, keeping Kentucky at the table of congressional conversation.
Hinton, meanwhile, drove more than four hours in order to offer his support — following more than 12 years a Barr constituent and friend.
Be it through tobacco, beef cattle, row crops and/or bourbon, Barr said Kentucky’s signature industry is agriculture, and that its ancillary opportunities — energy, equipment, environment, economic — maintains responsibility for millions in the state.
Barr’s announcement came six weeks after Republican Congress members announced plans of creating a task force to study the possibility of allowing year-round sales of “E15” gasoline, which contains 15% ethanol, after an effort to include the measure in the federal funding bill failed — despite some national storylines highlighting farms struggling with low crop prices, uncertain global trade conditions and unclear U.S. biofuels policies.
According to Reuters, expanding year-round sales would likely increase demand for corn, ethanol’s primary ingredient, and at present, E15 sales are restricted during the summer months because of federal air quality regulations. Oil refiners have also opposed expanding biofuel blending requirements in the past, citing higher costs.
E15, Barr added, is but one of many subjects this coalition will champion. A beef cattle oligopoly, he said, has chucked packing and producing competition, and beef processing needs to be married to grain production.
He also believes “sensible labor policies” and “reasonable hemp legislation,” protecting producers and children, would go a long way in keeping Kentucky at the top of the nation’s farm message.
Furthermore, he wants to see improvements in accessing farm credit.
Just before the announcement, Barr met with Christian County, regional and state leaders — showcasing his aspirations for what should be a competitive May Republican primary.
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