leroux. please begin when you are ready. >> thank you, chairman thompson, ranking member scott and members of the committee. i appreciate the opportunity to testify today the national farmers union is the nation's second largest organization we advocate with economic prosperity of family farmers, ranchers and their communities through education cooperation and legislation. as we approach the 2023 farmville which it all work together to resolve regulations, mounting uncertainty and inflationary pressures, family farmers and ranchers are particularly vulnerable to the effects of inflation, supply chain disruption due to russia's invasion of ukraine and shifts in demand of supply backlog from the pandemic into lingering effective trade dispute with china have all set the stage for rising cost for farmers and ranchers. inflationary pressures are intensified by a lack of market competition in the food system. we have few buyers and sellers to choose from. as of 2019 the top four companies in the c

leroux i have this question. but before i asked the question she must be actively engaged in farming to be eligible for commodity price programs were intended by congress to make sure farm subsidies made it directly to the hands of our country's hard-working farmers. however in 2020 the usda rule exempt all family farms from the requirement which we know usda defined as 98% of all farms. so is it fair to the taxpayer in smaller farms that do not qualify to the extent's included nephews cousins nieces, all receive the tune of $50000 annual from the federal government even though they have not done farm work over the last year? in your opinion how many hours would be needed for someone to be actively engaged in farming? resend the biggest farmers get 70% of the benefits of the farm program. leroux understands strongly supports actively engage provisions that limit payments to those who are truly invested in management and labor and provisions. we certainly would be willing to work to look for ways to ensure those r

leroux? >> i would agree, the particular model, having flexibility, is proven out by the fact that we have these programs, they've been historically oversubscribed and underfunded. making sure we have the resources in there to service as many as possible, it is really important. >> again, thanks to both of you. thank you. >> thank you senator hoeven, senator grassley. >> thank you madam chairman. >> this. >> first i want to say my long held belief is that foreign policy should be a safety, net -- to weather the storm of natural disasters, and any other unpredictable thing that affects commodity markets. plenty of things like embargoes and things like that that can do great damage. anyway, there is a lot of talk about the need to increase reference prices, because of falling farming income. according to u.s. data, we will see a net farm income, drop slightly this year. but we will have to remember, 2022 united states said that record, farm income, farm safety is there to help mitigate losses.

no, no, today all the toasts should be only for leroux and you won’t believe it, for the weather, orrd here that old people suffer from this, to be honest, it always scared me. yes, if i were you, i 'd be scared too. know where you can work. we will have forecasts of the most accurate countries. the second floor never said a bribe, but it is so clear that without money. sergei what's wrong with you? you don't come, i call you. denis, where are you going so early? yes? to me get up early sorry. well, okay, denis. how do you like vika? she seems to be a good girl, i have no doubt. again, happy birthday.

leroux? >> a couple of things, number one, making sure that we are taking full advantage of the provision there to be creative, whether that is tying in climate to market, or looking at ways to incentivize some of those practices. i think also, looking at some of the programs that congress has put in place, such as the farmer revenue intended to address some of the diversified multi form of risk management. and yet, they have struggled to really gain a lot of traction out there. because of, certainly a perception that the paperwork and the cumbersome process of having that coverage is ultimately not worth the effort. for especially the crops, the challenges are immense for some of these crops that are treated with direct contracts, how do we find ways to either better market existing products that folks may not even be aware of? then, certainly increasing the development of additional products out there. but and also underscore all of this that crops are not weakening in a private or public p

i puffed at leroux at the people's artist of the russian federation , you understand? i am delighted. i didn't expect that. i just didn't expect actually spelled. you brilliant sang something you perfectly thank you very much, and in harsh enough conditions to notice. you are such a difficult person . you have experienced so much, you are a real strong woman with such a steel inner core. i, too, like stas, i want to wish you to meet, and the person with whom you are hand hand in hand for many, many more years you will be happy and you will be just like they laugh today, every day you will enjoy every day. and, of course, i would like to wish you good health and long life. it's the same with the song. thanks a lot. i'm happy i didn't say, pinch me, please pinch, i'm afraid to wake up. i pinched you do not sleep, this is reality. this is your life that goes on, and it will be great for you. believe because you thank you very much. now you can pinch them and pinch harder after the expert. thank you very much. natasha let me hug you. thank you very much for all the perform