It’s Not Too Late for a Farm Bill

Farmers are persistent, especially when it comes to our commitment to our families, our communities and our nation. We are not giving up on the farm bill because we know America’s families are counting on us to be persistent in growing the food, fiber and fuel that keeps our country running. And that’s why farmers are counting on Congress to finally and fully deliver a new farm bill this year.

It’s Not Too Late to Protect American-Grown Products

America’s farmers and ranchers are ready to meet the growing demand for products grown and raised on our soil. But rising pressures continue to shrink the agricultural landscape of our country. Over the past decade, more than 200,000 family farms have gone out of business. From rising costs on the farm to shifting markets to the lack of a stable workforce, it’s getting harder for the American farmer to hang on through the tough times. That’s why the farm bill continues to be critical to the survival and success of our nation’s farmers.

We rely on the programs that help us weather the storm, we improve our sustainability through conservation programs, and we drive into the future with innovative research. And that’s just to name a few of the ways this legislation helps keep American-grown products in our local stores and on our tables. We appreciate the updates to risk management and some farm programs in H.R. 1 but recognize that there are a lot of farm bill programs left on the table that haven’t been updated since 2018. Congress last passed a bipartisan farm bill in 2018 and has extended that bill three times since it first expired in 2023. The clock is ticking down with the last extension about to expire at the end of September.

It’s Not Too Late to Come Together for America’s Farmers

The farm bill has a long history of bringing lawmakers together from both sides of the aisle to support America’s farmers and ranchers and secure a safe, healthy food supply for America’s families. Now is the time for Congress to do just that. Since the House passed its version of the farm bill, the ball is now in the Senate’s court. This task will take persistence, but it is not impossible. And farmers and ranchers will persist in calling on our lawmakers to come together and get the job done. That’s what brought farmers and ranchers from across the country to our nation’s capital this week, in fact. Farm Bureau members from 13 states took time from their farms and ranches to come in person to meet with U.S. senators on both sides of the aisle. Their message was simple but direct: America needs farmers. Farmers need a modernized and complete farm bill.

It’s Not Too Late to Make Your Voice Heard

Now is the time for every one of us to make our voices heard. You can still deliver your message straight to Washington even if you cannot make the trip here this fall. We all depend on the success of American agriculture, whether you farm every day, work in a rural community, or support your family in the city. I urge you to join in with the thousands of Farm Bureau members who have reached out to their lawmakers and called on them to deliver a farm bill. This is where the strength of Farm Bureau shines, when we speak up together with a united voice to strengthen our farms and rural communities. Be that voice for your farm, your family and your community today.