U.S. Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton, plus House of Representatives members Rick Crawford, Steve Womack, French Hill, and Bruce Westerman each demonstrated support for agriculture and exceeded the required voting threshold on issues of importance, according to Randy Veach, president of the Arkansas Farm Bureau.Charleston Express:

U.S. Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton, plus House of Representatives members Rick Crawford, Steve Womack, French Hill, and Bruce Westerman each demonstrated support for agriculture and exceeded the required voting threshold on issues of importance, according to Randy Veach, president of the Arkansas Farm Bureau.

The Friend of Farm Bureau award is given at the end of each Congress to those nominated by Arkansas Farm Bureau and approved by the American Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors. Voting records on key legislative issues important to agriculture are considered in the nomination. Among the issues considered were regulatory and tax reform, transportation and infrastructure legislation and international trade.

“We are fortunate in Arkansas that all six members of our congressional delegation understand the importance of agriculture to our state’s economy,” said Veach, a third-generation row-crop farmer from Manila (Mississippi County). “We work very closely with our congressional delegation, and their staffs, to make them aware of any impacts proposed legislation could have on the men and women of agriculture.

“This award is based upon several measurements: the member’s voting records on AFBF’s priority issues established by the Board of Directors, the number of bills a member has sponsored and co-sponsored, specific leadership role for Farm Bureau on priority issues, and how accessible and responsive that member has been to Farm Bureau members and leaders.”

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