Jerry Moran: “I am here today in part because I care about farmers and ranchers. But the reason I care about farmers and ranchers is…”

“I am here today in part because I care about farmers and ranchers. But the reason I care about farmers and ranchers is because I care about America and I care especially about rural America. What we do today will affect the outcome of whether or not those farmers and ranchers are in business next week, next month, next year and for the next generation. If Members care about America, they have to care about rural America as well. The average age of a farmer in Kansas is 58 years old. I have talked to many young farmers, sons of farmers who want to come back to the family farm, but because of the economy, it is simply not possible. There has not been profitability in agriculture for so long that we do not have anyone stepping forward to replace this generation of farmers and ranchers in our country. What that means, in much of America is there are fewer kids in school, there are fewer shoppers on main street and our rural communities continue to see a demise in their way of life. It is that way of life, it is farming and ranching and that rural way of life throughout our history that has enabled us to pass character and values from one generation to the next.”