As farmers and ranchers continue navigating a challenging farm economy, the Senate Agriculture Committee recently held a hearing focused on potential policy solutions and long-term support for the agricultural sector. American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall was among the leaders invited to testify before lawmakers. During the hearing, Duvall emphasized that strengthening demand for American-grown food, fiber, and renewable fuels will be critical as producers face mounting economic pressure across the countryside.
Duvall told the committee that the current economic environment is placing historic strain on farmers and ranchers, pointing to declining farm income and several ongoing challenges facing the industry.
“I focused on the need to increase domestic demand for agricultural products, especially in light of the historical headwinds that our farmers are facing, as well as trade disputes, and the farm labor crisis, said Duvall. “The fact is that USDA projects farm income this year to be nearly $50 billion below the levels just a few years ago, when adjusted for inflation, and that’s unsustainable.”
Duvall also told lawmakers there are several policy actions Congress can take that could provide meaningful support to agricultural producers and help stabilize the farm economy.
“Congress can help correct the structural imbalance of our food system by fixing long-term problems and also through new pathways. Long-term steps like authorizing year-round E15, modernizing our farm labor programs, and expanding access to trade markets will all help farmers get back in balance,” said Duvall.
In addition to market demand and labor concerns, Duvall noted that supply chain pressures and input availability remain a concern for farmers. He said the hearing created an opportunity for lawmakers to examine the broader agricultural landscape and consider policies that address the long-term sustainability of the industry…tape
“Concerns about fertilizer shortages were also discussed, and the potential of that issue to further limit farmers’ ability to feed our nation,” said Duvall. “We’ve lost 175,000 farms in recent years, and we’ll lose a lot more if we can’t bring balance back to the ag economy.”
