Joco Today

Senator Marshall recently appeared on Market Day Report on RFD-TV to provide an update on the Farm Bill and discuss his new legislation, the Fair and Accurate Ingredient Representation on Labels (FAIR Labels) Act. This legislation aims to ensure more accurate and transparent labeling of imitation meats created with cell-cultured products from a lab or plant-based proteins.

During the interview, Senator Marshall emphasized the importance of consumer awareness and the need for proper labeling. He stated, "Consumers more than ever want to know exactly what they’re eating, they want to know where it’s from as well. So I think it’s very unfair to put some of these soybeans or plant-based proteins to put them in the meat counter, and really mislabeling them."

He further explained that consumers often assume that products in the meat counter are from American-grown animals, without realizing they are plant-based. Senator Marshall highlighted the difference in regulations and standards between American products and plant-based alternatives, stating, "the science and the studies behind the plant-based, they’re not held to the same level that American products are, the typical protein sources."

Senator Marshall expressed concern about the lack of oversight regarding foreign ownership of American farmlands. He emphasized the importance of food security as national security and called on the administration to measure and manage foreign ownership. He stated, "Right now we don’t even have a good idea of how much land does China own, and exactly where it is. So we’re calling on this administration to do their job, measure it, so then we can manage it and see what big of a threat this is or isn’t."

The senator also addressed the ongoing border crisis and its impact on agricultural communities. He expressed his concern for the safety of farmers and ranchers who have been physically threatened by individuals crossing the border illegally. Senator Marshall criticized President Joe Biden's handling of the situation and urged him to enforce the current laws. He stated, "Right now he’s been paroling about 700,000 people a year. Under Barack Obama, he paroled only 5,000 people a year. So we went from 5,000 to 700,000. Clearly, the parole law says you’re supposed to do this one person at a time, and Joe Biden is doing it tens of thousands of people at a time. So just enforce the current laws that we have, maintain operational control."

Regarding the Farm Bill, Senator Marshall emphasized the significance of crop insurance in supporting farmers. He highlighted the challenges faced by farmers due to factors beyond their control, such as unpredictable weather conditions. He stated, "Crop insurance allows us to plant next year’s crops. We have so many forces against us from Mother Nature we cannot control." He also stressed the need for increased funding for crop insurance and the Title One funding of reference prices.

In conclusion, Senator Marshall's interview on Market Day Report shed light on his new legislation, the FAIR Labels Act, as well as his concerns about foreign ownership of American farmlands, the border crisis, and the importance of crop insurance in the Farm Bill.