JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Farmers and ranchers across the nation are facing economic hardships. In Mississippi, where agriculture is the No. 1 industry, farmers have been impacted in several ways.

Roughly $10 billion in farming subsidies are on the chopping block in the upcoming farm bill extension.

“Food security is national security. This is a threat not just to the farmers but to our nation, a nation that cannot feed itself, cannot survive,” said Andy Gipson, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce (R-Miss.).

He has faith that Republicans in Congress will forge a deal before a legislative deadline on Friday, December 20. Gipson believes additional aid to farmers is necessary to create healthy agriculture policy and build stronger international circles.

“And people forget that when those prices are high in the grocery store, those prices are not being passed on to the farmers. Farmers are actually having to pay the same prices. The inflationary price as the cost of raising the crop is going up 30% since last year,” said Gipson.

Factors such as drought, trade deficits, and international relations with China have impacted farmers beyond measure.

“Our national security is at risk. The cost of being able to buy food for our families are at risk, and our farm family is at risk,” said Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Gipson said farmers are facing a level of economic hardship that has not been seen in decades.

“In the last two years, 141,000 farms have ceased operations due to these economic hardships. If something is not done, we will probably see in excess of 300,000 or more farms that will go out of business,” he said.

With a possible government shutdown looming, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and his allies have been exploring ways to aid farmers as part of a stop-gap funding measure.

The government’s current funding expires on Friday, December 20.