From the Desk of American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall

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The impact of military action in Iran is being felt by America’s farmers.

In this week’s commentary, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall shipping disruptions are putting planting season at risk.

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A farm emergency is brewing, as events in the Middle East will soon be felt on America’s farm fields.

Military action in Iran has led to disruptions in maritime routes through the Strait of Hormuz.

That means farmers could be left without fertilizer supplies as planting season gets into full swing, and drive prices higher for farmers struggling to stay in business.

Farm Bureau urges the administration to use the Navy to provide safe transit of fertilizer shipments and address insurance barriers for ships transporting fertilizer cargo.

If the delivery of important farm supplies isn’t prioritized, the U.S. risks putting the nation’s food security in jeopardy.

I’m Zippy Duvall, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

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USDA will soon begin rolling out up to 1-billion dollars to help specialty crop farmers.

In this week’s commentary, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall tells us the payments are good start toward helping an underserved agriculture sector.

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We’re starting to learn more about the new program to spend up to a billion dollars for specialty crop growers who have suffered losses in this tough economy.

Farm Bureau has long advocated for more assistance for specialty crop growers, who have traditionally been locked out of major safety net programs.

Farmers raising fruits, vegetables, and tree nuts have higher expenses because of the intensive nature of their operations, including a reliance on manual labor.

They’re also vulnerable to lower-priced imports and trade disruptions.

We anxiously await additional details and need USDA to distribute money soon.

Hopefully, specialty crop growers can withstand this economic crisis, if our policymakers will act swiftly to provide aid, as well as pursue passage of a new farm bill.

I’m Zippy Duvall, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

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The Supreme Court’s decision on tariffs was closely watched by America’s farmers, who rely on trade for one-fifth of their income.

In this week’s commentary, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall tells us that open markets are crucial to rebuilding the farm economy.

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America’s farmers understand the president’s efforts to use tariffs to create a more level playing field for farmers

Unfortunately, trade disruptions and declining prices for agricultural goods created additional hardships for farmers who are already dealing with crippling inflation and declining farm prices.

We appreciate the president responding to trade and market disruptions by delivering important financial assistance.

But, open and fair markets are critical to help rebuild the farm economy.

We urge the administration to work swiftly to find other ways to resolve trade disputes and finalize recently announced trade frameworks.

We strongly encourage the president to avoid using any other available authorities to impose tariffs on agricultural inputs that would further increase costs.

I’m Zippy Duvall, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

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With all the challenges of the farm economy, it’s easy to lose sight of progress being made on important issues.

In this week’s commentary, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall tells us the key to success is farmer engagement.

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Farmers and ranchers have had plenty of reasons to feel frustrated—a tough economy, high costs, and uncertainty around key policies.

But recently, we’ve seen some encouraging momentum for agriculture.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson recently released updated farm bill text, and the committee is preparing to mark it up.

Progress matters, but farmers need Congress to finish the job and deliver a new, modernized farm bill.

We’re also seeing positive movement on trade, including new agreements that expand market access for US agriculture.

Momentum is building for year-round E15, which would strengthen demand for American grown crops and reduce prices for consumers at the pump.

When farmers stay engaged, it leads to real results. And that engagement matters now more than ever.

I am Zippy Duvall, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation.