OZARK — State Representative Rhett Marques (R-Enterprise), the Republican nominee for Alabama’s second congressional district, joined U.S. Representative Austin Scott (R-Ga.) in Dale County recently for a roundtable discussion with local farmers. The meeting provided a platform for producers to share their perspectives on local agriculture and the issues they currently face, with a particular focus on the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026.
Following the roundtable, Marques and Scott toured a local farm. Both representatives highlighted the impact of high input prices and delays in federal assistance on agricultural producers in the Wiregrass. The last comprehensive federal farm bill, passed in 2018, expired in 2023, leaving farmers reliant on short-term remedies enacted in the interim while new legislation is considered by the U.S. House of Representatives.
Current negotiations for the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 have stalled. The primary points of contention contributing to the deadlock include work requirement provisions for federal aid programs and the allocation for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), alongside cost-share requirements for states to help subsidize the program. Representatives emphasized that if these negotiations continue without resolution, local farmers could face ongoing challenges and additional impacts from the lack of a comprehensive federal agricultural policy.
U.S. Rep. Scott criticized congressional Democrats for the delays in passing the farm bill, stating that they were demanding a significant portion of the bill's spending be directed towards SNAP benefits. State Rep. Marques, who has received an endorsement from the Alabama Farmers Federation, underscored the critical importance of the agricultural sector to the region. He recognized that Alabama and its second congressional district, which includes the Wiregrass, are substantially dependent on the agricultural industry. Marques affirmed that the farm industry serves as Alabama's largest economic engine and stressed the necessity of supporting the state’s farmers.
With the general election approximately three weeks away, Marques also highlighted the importance of civic participation. He commented that voter turnout would be vital for not only the second congressional district but for every race across the country. Marques is slated to run against U.S. Rep. Figures (D-Montgomery) on Tuesday, November 3. U.S. Rep. Figures has previously opposed the passage of the federal farm bill.
