Congressman Mike Flood says Nebraska farmers need action on federal assistance and agricultural policy, while warning that President Donald Trump’s Russian diesel agreement could send money to a government waging war against Ukraine.
During a virtual news conference Sunday, the Nebraska Republican was asked what immediate help is realistically available to producers facing high input and fuel costs during harvest. Flood pointed to an assistance proposal he described as part of a House reconciliation package.
He estimated that it included $10 billion in economic assistance for farmers, qualifying the figure with “I believe.” He said Senate action remained uncertain. “That remains in the Senate right now, unknown as to whether or not they’re going to take that up in the lame duck, but that has the most immediate relief for agriculture,” Flood tells KLIN News.
Flood did not identify a payment schedule or guarantee that new assistance would reach producers during harvest. He identified year-round E15 sales and crop-insurance predictability as major priorities. E15 is gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol. Flood argued that expanded availability could increase demand for ethanol and support corn prices.
“That is the number one goal,” he said. “It would create more demand for ethanol. It would create higher prices for corn.” Flood supported allowing highway use of dyed diesel as a way to help with fuel costs, but expressed reservations about Trump’s separate agreement to purchase Russian diesel, announced Friday.
“I have two concerns, and those concerns are Ukraine and Iran,” Flood tells KLIN News. “We know that Vladimir Putin uses his resources to wage war against the good people of Ukraine. I support Ukraine in that.”
Flood said he did not yet have all the agreement’s details. He warned that doing business with Russia could put money into Putin’s government and said he was also concerned about Russian cooperation with Iran.
“I want gas prices to come down. I want diesel prices to come down, but I don’t want dollars going into Vladimir Putin’s pocket that can go to reinforce his campaign against Ukraine and obviously help the government of Iran,” Flood says.