Bringing Home Ag Inputs 

A new bill in both the House and Senate has Congresspeople working across the aisle to bring the ag supply chain back home. The Securing American Ag Act aims to set back dependence on other countries—and more specifically, China. 

Securing American Ag Act: The bill puts pressure on the USDA to complete a threat assessment of food and ag supply chains. It would require the Secretary of Agriculture to propose pathways to prevent potential threats from China and to pave pathways for domestic input production. 

Bill backstory: China’s built a stronghold on agricultural inputs: from vet pharmaceuticals to crop protection tools. For example, 85% of animal feed amino acids come from China, plus 90% of vitamins C and B6. Accessing these inputs is critical for food security and agricultural productivity. 

Soundbite: “Iowa farmers have told me firsthand that if China decides to shut off U.S. access to these critical inputs, our food production would be in jeopardy. I’m proud to reintroduce this bipartisan bill that exposes and counters China’s grip on agricultural inputs to strengthen domestic manufacturing and food security. Plain and simple: we should bring our agriculture supply chain home.” — Iowa representative Ashley Hinson