Farm Bureau Grassroots Gear Up for Congressional Recess

Soon, members of Congress will head home to spend the August recess visiting with the people they represent. The House will recess on July 25, and the Senate will follow a little over a week later, on Aug. 4. Our lawmakers have had a busy summer, but there’s still important issues that need to be addressed when they return to Washington on Sept. 2. August recess is a prime time for Farm Bureau’s grassroots members to make their voices heard and share their stories.

Lawmakers need to hear directly from farmers and ranchers when they are home this recess. Whether you farm in a rural, suburban, or urban district, your community depends on the work you do every day to grow a safe and healthy food supply. Your work as a farmer helps to drive your local, state, and the national economy. It’s critical for lawmakers to hear how their decisions on Capitol Hill directly impact your ability to grow food, fiber and renewable fuel for your neighbors near and far.

Top of the list for farmers across the country is for Congress to address the agriculture labor crisis in our country. Reform to our workforce system — our broken guestworker programs and the uncertainty facing our broader worker population — is beyond overdue. If we are going to keep farms of all sizes in business producing the healthy food that our nation depends on, we must ensure that farmers have access to a skilled, legal workforce. I highlighted this issue with President Trump in our recent meeting in the Oval Office, and I encourage all our grassroots members to share with lawmakers how pressing this issue is. Farm Bureau understands that the labor shortage is the greatest challenge many farm families face. Congress must work together to find a solution. We cannot afford more delays on top of the nearly four decades since the last time we saw agricultural labor reform.

We also need to share with our lawmakers how important it is to pass a farm bill that renews and expands our nation’s investment in research and conservation programs. We are grateful for the funding of risk management tools and increases to outdated reference prices in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The modernized farm safety net programs and updated tax provisions bring much-needed relief to America’s farmers and ranchers. Now it’s time to finish the job with a reauthorization of the remaining farm bill programs that are important to farmers and ranchers and all families.

Farmers and ranchers are trusted voices with the public. Our latest research at the American Farm Bureau shows that about 9 in 10 people trust farmers and ranchers, making you one of the most trusted professions in this country. And with the increased interest in how our food is grown, this is a critical time to share the story of agriculture. The Make America Healthy Again (or MAHA) movement has attracted a lot of interest, and its popularity is understandable. We all want to see healthier outcomes for our families and communities. But we need to ensure these discussions are grounded in science and that farmers have a seat at the table when policies that directly impact them are being discussed. With the next MAHA report set to come out from the administration on Aug. 12, this is an important time for farmers to share with lawmakers how you are growing safe, healthy and sustainable food and what tools you need to keep our nation’s food supply secure.

At Farm Bureau, our grassroots advocacy sets us apart, and makes us the strong, united Voice of Agriculture in our nation’s capital. When our grassroots speak up, it is powerful. Let’s get out there this recess. Visit your lawmakers in their home offices. Attend the townhall meetings. Invite your members of Congress out to your farm. Host an event at your county or state fair. Can you imagine the impact if every member of Congress met with a farmer or rancher this August recess? Let’s make it happen, and together, let’s strengthen agriculture for the good of our families, our communities and our country.