Representatives of American Farmers & Ranchers (AFR) Cooperative joined more than 100 farmers from across the country to lobby Congress for a new farm bill during National Farmers Union’s (NFU) Week of Action May 5-9.
“We went to Washington to convince Congress we need a new farm bill,” said AFR Cooperative President Scott Blubaugh. “We’re two-and-a-half years overdue.”
AFR’s message was clear: farmers in Oklahoma are facing a perfect storm of volatile markets, rising input costs, shrinking federal support and mounting trade tensions — all with no new farm bill in sight.
“The trade uncertainties throughout the world and input prices have risen dramatically since the last farm bill was written eight years ago, resulting in a safety net that today is totally inadequate,” said Blubaugh. “Our farm programs desperately need to be updated. That’s why a farm bill is supposed to be written every five years—to allow for changes to farmers’ and ranchers’ bottom lines, like inflation, input availability, and changes to commodity markets.”
While in Washington, AFR joined other farmers and ranchers for briefings at the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, the U.S. Dept. of Justice, and with legislators on Capitol Hill, including House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Penn.), House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-Minn.), and Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).
“We were in Washington to put pressure on both sides of the aisle,” said Blubaugh. “We were there to say we need this now. Stop kicking the can down the road.”
AFR and NFU members from across the country advocated for easing the burden on farmers by passing a strong, united and comprehensive five-year farm bill that strengthens the farm safety net, builds upon voluntary conservation programs, fosters fairness and opportunity in the marketplace, delivers fast and reliable risk management programs, and garners broad support from both farmers and consumers.
The AFR representatives also met with all members of the Oklahoma congressional delegation or their staff, including Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK-03), Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK-03), Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK-01), Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-OK-05), and Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-OK-02).
AFR Cooperative is a membership services organization established in 1905 as Oklahoma Farmers Union. AFR provides educational, legislative and cooperative programs across the state and serves as a watchdog for Oklahoma’s family farmers and ranchers and rural communities. The organization is actively supportive of the state’s agricultural industry and rural population with membership consisting of farmers actively involved in production agriculture and non-farmers adding their voice in support of AFR principles.
