Farm director KC Sheperd spoke with Mike Stranz, vice president of advocacy for the National Farmers Union, at the National Farm Broadcasters Convention in Kansas City. The conversation centers on current challenges facing farmers, beginning with concerns about the aftermath of the recent government shutdown and what comes next for federal trade assistance. Stranz emphasizes that farmers are under pressure from “high input costs and low commodity prices,” and that any new aid from the Trump administration must be implemented “in a helpful way that helps in the short term and the long term.” He stresses that producers urgently need clarity on how promised relief will be structured and delivered.
Stranz notes that while short-term assistance is essential, it must be targeted correctly. He recalls that during previous trade-aid programs, “Some of the multinational meat packers received tens of millions of dollars,” which he argues cannot be repeated. According to Stranz, future support must be directed specifically to “family farmers and ranchers who need it most.” Looking beyond immediate relief, he explains the need for a comprehensive Farm Bill that tackles market instability and other structural issues that continue to place financial strain on producers.
The discussion then shifts to beef-market volatility and the administration’s interest in both Argentine beef imports and expanded antitrust investigations. Stranz calls this a “good example of volatility,” supporting heightened scrutiny of the Big Four meatpackers. He reiterates the need for “more choices and more options and less monopolistic power,” noting that high grocery-store prices should not come at the expense of U.S. ranchers. He warns against “giving our foreign competitors a leg up on us” while domestic producers struggle.
Finally, the conversation addresses the long-stalled effort to reform the H-2A agricultural labor program. Stranz describes it as a “perennial issue that gets kind of hung up in Congress,” even though agricultural labor reforms have historically enjoyed bipartisan support. He points to the Farm Workforce Modernization Act as ready for passage, urging Congress to act. He closes by encouraging Oklahoma producers to stay engaged in grassroots policy work through the upcoming AFR and National Farmers Union meetings, urging farmers to “get involved, speak out and be part of the family.”
