The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), in partnership with AGCO Corporation, yesterday hosted U.S. Representative Brad Finstad (MN-01) for a farm bill listening session at the company’s manufacturing facility in Jackson, Minnesota. Congressman Finstad was joined by local farmers and producers to share their thoughts on priorities for the next farm bill.
“As a fourth-generation farmer, it is a privilege to take part in today’s listening session to hear directly from stakeholders and ag leaders about the unique opportunities and challenges we face in farm country. Throughout the last several months, I have had the opportunity to visit with producers, meet with our ag business community, and hold listening sessions in all 21 counties throughout MN-01 to ensure the Farm Bill meets their needs,” said Congressman Finstad. “I am looking forward to bringing today’s discussion back to Washington as we continue our work to pass a strong and effective Farm Bill that puts our farmers and rural communities first. Thank you to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers and AGCO Corporation for graciously hosting today’s event and for all that they do to support the ag industry.”
The farm bill is a critical tool for ensuring our nation’s food supply remains secure. Funding for this comprehensive package includes risk management tools for farmers, access to nutrition for long-income families, conservation programs, and investments in agricultural research. Since the Great Depression, Congress has passed a farm bill every five years. The current farm bill expires at the end of the fiscal year (September 30), and reauthorization poses a significant test for a divided government.
“As a leader in the agricultural equipment industry, AGCO is proud to host Representative Finstad for this important conversation with Minnesota stakeholders. Our Jackson plant employs over 800 people who help build the state-of-the-art equipment that feeds the world. AGCO innovations allow farmers and ranchers to leverage new precision ag technologies that save them time and money while also improving their yields and reducing their environmental impact,” said Bill Hurley, Vice President, Distribution, Americas, AGCO Corporation. “We are grateful to Representative Finstad for his leadership on the House Agriculture Committee, where he not only fights for Minnesotans, but also works diligently to ensure America’s farmers and ranchers remain competitive in a constantly evolving global marketplace.”
Finstad serves as the Chairman for the Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture Subcommittee on the House Agriculture Committee. During the event, a variety of topics were discussed, including dairy federal milk marketing orders, precision agriculture needs, broadband, conservation practices, and carbon credits, just to name a few. A diverse group of Minnesota stakeholders were present, demonstrating the depth and breadth of the needs of the people across Minnesota, and across the United States. Throughout the entire conversation, it was clear that those living in both rural and urban America rely on the passage of a bipartisan farm bill in a timely manner.
“The equipment manufacturing industry is made up of more than 2.3 million hardworking men and women from across the United States, and more than two-thirds of them live and work in rural communities like Jackson. Our industry is not only deeply connected to rural America, but we are a big part of it,” said Kip Eideberg, senior vice president of government and industry relations for AEM. “Equipment manufacturers urge Congress to find common ground and pass a farm bill that provides a safety net for farmers and ranchers, strengthens our national food supply chain, incentivizes the adoption of precision agriculture technology, and invests in rural communities. It is because of leaders like Congressman Finstad, who truly understands the needs of rural America, that there is hope for a bipartisan farm bill.”
