Farm director KC Sheperd is on the ground in the nation’s capital this week with the National Association of Farm Broadcasters, engaging with lawmakers and agricultural groups to address the mounting challenges facing American farmers and ranchers. A key part of this week’s activities includes meetings with influential figures like Rob Larew, President of the National Farmers Union, amidst their crucial “week of action.”
Larew underscored the gravity of the current situation, stating, “First of all, I think it’s a sign of the fact that the farm economy is in a little bit of a state of crisis right now, that we were able to get well over 100 farmers and ranchers from across the country to come into DC this week.”
He emphasized the pressing need for intervention. “The fact is, is that the state of the farm economy, coupled with a great deal of uncertainty in farm country right now, the threat of additional trade implications in the ongoing trade war, all of this, along with USDA kind of unveiling some of their plans, and the fact that we still don’t have a farm bill in place, so we are trying to send a message to Capitol Hill, to USDA and the White House, that farm country needs help.”
The primary message being delivered to policymakers is the urgent need for stability. “We need to bring some more certainty back into farm country, and the best way to do that would be to pass a comprehensive five-year farm bill,” Larew asserted.
Despite ongoing discussions, progress on a new farm bill has been slow, leaving farmers operating under the 2018 bill, which Larew argues is inadequate for the current climate. “It used to be that we could say that a 2018 farm bill, which is what we’re operating under right now, didn’t even help us prepare for a pandemic. It certainly isn’t helping us prepare for this trade war that we’re currently under, and it hasn’t kept up with the farm safety net.”
The consequences of inaction could be severe, according to Larew. “What we are trying to say to Capitol Hill is that if you aren’t careful, if you don’t do something soon, what you’re going to see is the continued disappearance of farmers who just want to stop the bleeding because they’re eating into their life’s equity at their operations. And you’re going to have new and beginning farmers who say, ‘Where’s the future in this?’ And I think that sets up the country and certainly our communities for real trouble here on the horizon. So, we are trying to urge them: We need help, and we need it sooner rather than later.”
Adding to the challenges are recent cuts and potential future reductions within the USDA and Farm Service Agency (FSA). Larew advised members to stay informed and connected with their local FSA offices, noting reports of reduced operating hours due to staffing shortages. “We’re hearing stories of some offices that are only operating two or three days a week because they don’t have the staff to keep things open. That’s not a good way to make sure that farmers can be well served here.” While acknowledging the need for fiscal responsibility, Larew cautioned against short-sighted cuts. “I think we can all appreciate that any waste, fraud, and abuse needs to be vetted out. Absolutely! But we also need to make sure that the programs continue to be operational and that farmers and ranchers can actually be serviced, and that’s why those county offices are just too important. So I think that we’d love to see a plan for the long term. I think just making cuts without any grand plan is a very dangerous precedent right now. It’s having so many unintended consequences across the country, including Oklahoma.”
The National Farmers Union is also actively engaged in promoting fair competition within the agricultural marketplace. Larew highlighted a positive meeting with the Department of Justice on antitrust issues. “As a farmers’ union, through our Fairness for Farmers campaign and making sure that there’s true competition in the marketplace. We had just a tremendous conversation this morning with the Assistant Attorney General for antitrust, so the top law enforcement at the Department of Justice, who understands that farmers and ranchers, particularly cattlemen, out there, are up against huge monopoly forces, and they want to work with us to try to see what can be done about that. That’s very positive.”
As the week progresses, the focus remains on conveying the urgent needs of farmers and ranchers to policymakers, advocating for a comprehensive farm bill, and ensuring the continued functionality of vital support systems. The message from farm country is clear: the time for action is now.
