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The Ohio Soybean Association (OSA) is calling on Congress to pass proposals for economic assistance and disaster aid for farmers in an end-of-year package to fund the federal government.

“We have been working hard to make sure our members of Congress understand the dire circumstances farmers are facing due to economic stress and poor growing conditions in Ohio,” said Bennett Musselman, Vice President of the OSA Board of Trustees and Pickaway County farmer. “This assistance can help make up some of the shortfalls farmers are experiencing and could even help some avoid losing their farm.”

Inflation, historically high input prices and falling commodity prices have created a challenging farm economy for Ohio soybean growers. Soybean prices have dropped 40 percent over the past two years. Compounded by an already insufficient farm safety net, this has made it increasingly difficult for farming operations to remain viable.

Most of Ohio also suffered from drought conditions this growing season. In southern Ohio, the drought was the worst in memory for many farmers and was followed by heavy rains from the remnants of Hurricane Helene that damaged soybean crops.

While President-Elect Trump has voiced concerns about the overall spending package introduced earlier this week, he has acknowledged the need for assistance to farmers.