Did you know U.S. consumers spend just 10% of their disposable income on food each year? Consumers in other countries spend much more on food. Indonesia spends 55% of their disposable income on food, and China spends 26% while Japan spends 14%.

Of the 10% of disposable income Americans spend on food, an average of 5.8% is spent on food eaten at home and 4.1% is spent on food eaten away from home.

Americans work 36 days to pay for the food they will consume for the year. We can thank American Farmers and Ranchers for our safe and abundant food supply.

With the recent toy recalls from China, consumers are becoming more aware of American made products. Now is the time for farmers and ranchers to promote and educate consumers about where their food comes from.

American farmers are currently at a disadvantage in Peru and Colombia because U.S. products entering these countries receive tariffs, while the products they ship to the U.S. are duty free.

A pending trade agreement with Peru would increase the value of U.S. farm exports by more than $705 million per year after full implementation if Congress approves the deal.

South Carolina Farm Bureau President David Winkles testified before the Senate Finance Committee about the trade agreement’s potential for improving U.S. farmers’ and ranchers’ bottom lines. “This agreement requires the elimination of all tariffs on all agricultural products exported by the United States to Peru,” Winkles said.

Winkles urged Senate Finance Committee members and the full Senate to take prompt action on agreements with Peru, Colombia and Panama. If passed, these three agreements would increase U.S. agricultural exports by almost $1.5 billion per year once the agreements are fully implemented.

Please urge members of Congress to commit to U.S. Agriculture Trade and pass the Peru Trade Deal promptly.

Today I had the opportunity to testify before the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works. I testified on the health and environment effects confined animal feeding operations may or may not have to human health and the environment. I spoke on behalf of family farmers and ranchers all across the nation. My testimony emphasized to this committee that farmers and ranchers all across this country work diligently to protect our environment, our land and care for our animals. I told the committee how farmers and ranchers go above and beyond federal and state regulations to protect our environment. I also reinforced the many positive things U.S. agriculture does to safely provide an abundant food supply to our consumers. Farmers are a very important, yet often overlooked, part of our food chain. Finally, I asked the committee when considering implementing new rules and regulations to consider the impact these rules and regulations will have on family farmers, the communities we represent, and the other farmers we support.