U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told senators Wednesday he's doing all he can to help the farm economy. (DTN file photo by Chris Clayton)

OMAHA (DTN) -- Falling commodity prices have been a primary concern for farmers and ranchers across the country, but the rising number of federal regulations are also weighing on the ag economy, members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Nutrition told U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack during a hearing Wednesday.

The waters of the U.S. rule, or WOTUS; the Grain Inspection, Packers & Stockyards Administration, or GIPSA rule; and other regulations have the attention of both rural lawmakers and their constituents.

"These regulations have reasonable business men and women in agriculture truly concerned," said Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., chairman of the committee. "The concern from rural America is there is fear they are being ruled and not governed."

What's more, as debate on the next farm bill will commence next year, the ability to maintain a strong safety net is expected to be front and center.

"This administration has proposed cuts to crop insurance programs each and every year," Roberts said. "We fought hard to stop a $3 billion cut. The crop insurance program is not a bank. In regard to these proposed cuts -- not in this room, not on my watch."

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said there has been much discussion in the committee and with farmers back in her home state about what can be done to turn the ag economy around.

"I'm always of the thought that less federal government involvement is better for our folks back home, not more," she said.

"And what I'm hearing mostly from our Iowans, especially the farmers, the ranchers, and our landowners, is that it really feels like the federal government is out to get them, and I see that a lot with a number of the rules and regulations that are coming forward."

Concerns about the GIPSA rule are that it will make it more costly for livestock and poultry producers, and more difficult for producers to contract with each other.

Ernst expressed concern USDA would take the same route as EPA did on the waters of the U.S. rule, where many agriculture interests believe the agency didn't seek their input before drafting a rule that expands EPA authority.

"That will not be the case here, I can assure you," Vilsack said, noting there will be a public comment period on the GIPSA rule.

"Senator, we'll make sure that we follow the administrative process in terms of what we propose," Vilsack said. "Since we haven't completed the work, I don't know what the final product is going to look like, but I can assure you that we're not going to put out something that doesn't allow people to review it, understand it, and to give us feedback on it."

FARM BILL PATH

In what may have been one of the final times Vilsack testifies before the committee, he touted the work USDA has done during his seven years as secretary and called on senators to take a different path during the upcoming farm bill debate in 2017.