Pres. Biden Visits Kankakee

President Joe Biden visited Kankakee Wednesday and announced measures to boost domestic fertilizer production and incentives for double cropping.

The moves are aimed at boosting food production amid the war in Ukraine and ongoing supply chain issues.

The new measures include another $250 million for a USDA grant program to boost domestic fertilizer production and a push to expand federal crop insurance benefits for double cropping.

Biden and US Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack also announced an initiative by USDA to increase outreach to farmers, to streamline applications and prioritize application approvals for federal precision agriculture programs.

Wednesday's announcement comes as the administration faces pressure from ag groups and farm state lawmakers to address skyrocketing fertilizer prices. Russia's war on Ukraine have compounded problems, as Russia is a top exporter of raw ingredients needed to make fertilizer.