Nutrition Starts on the Farm

Every few years, the USDA rolls out a new version of dietary guidelines, pictured with a plate or pyramid to help Americans think about healthier eating. As farmers, we know the story of nutrition begins long before food reaches our plates. No matter the shape these dietary guidelines take, one thing remains true: nutrition starts on the farm.

There’s no single food that covers all nutritional needs for every person. Just like on the farm, balance matters. A healthy diet, like a healthy farm, depends on diversity, stewardship and common sense. The conversation shouldn’t be about elevating one food group over another, but about understanding how the whole pyramid fits together to nourish families and fuel our nation.

Well-Balanced Nutrition Starts on the Farm

Across this country, farmers and ranchers raise livestock and grow a wide range of foods and ingredients that all play a role in feeding America. Milk, meat, grains and produce aren’t competitors—they’re complements. Farmers share the goal of helping families eat well, and that starts with a focus on valuing the entire food pyramid.

We were encouraged to see that balance reflected in a recent win to bring whole milk back into schools. It was a commonsense step that recognizes the nutritional value of dairy and the role it plays in children’s diets, especially for families who rely on school meals. The sentiment around whole milk didn’t change overnight. What changed was a willingness to listen to farmers, parents and nutrition experts who understand that a well-balanced diet matters.

Farmers Grow the Food That Fuels Well-Balanced Nutrition

When Americans walk through the grocery store, they see aisles filled with choices. What they don’t always see is the work behind each product. Farmers grow the grains that become bread and cereal, the fruits and vegetables that fill produce sections, and the proteins that anchor meals around kitchen tables. We raise dairy cows, tend orchards, plant vegetable fields, and steward the land so it can keep producing for generations.

Farmers are committed to producing safe, affordable and nutritious food—but we can’t do it alone. Getting food into kitchen pantries across America depends on policies that support the entire food supply chain, from the field to the checkout line.

That reality matters now more than ever, as farmers are facing one of the toughest economic stretches we’ve seen in years. High interest rates, volatile markets and increasing production costs are squeezing farm families from every direction. At the same time, demand for nutritious, affordable food isn’t slowing down.

If policymakers want Americans to have access to well-balanced diets, they need to make sure farmers can stay in business. Supporting agriculture isn’t just about ensuring vibrant rural communities—it’s about food security, economic stability and the health of our nation.

Feeding Families Starts with Supporting Farmers

Conversations around nutrition may continue to evolve, and farmers will continue to engage in them. But the foundation of a healthy meal hasn’t changed. Every food group starts with a farmer who is willing to take a risk, plant a seed, raise an animal and hope the season cooperates.

As farmers, we’re proud of the role we play in feeding America. All we ask is that nutrition policy recognizes the full picture—and that lawmakers remember you can’t build a healthy diet without a strong farm economy to support it.