By Jamie Martin
Across the United States, farmers face unprecedented uncertainty due to surging costs, regulatory burdens, and weak commodity prices. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) stresses that sustaining rural livelihoods is vital to national food and energy security.
Agriculture drives over $6 trillion in economic activity and supports 22 million jobs. Farm Bureau leaders advocate several reforms to bring back predictability and profitability for U.S. producers.
Trade agreements remain key to success. Enforcing existing deals and ensuring reciprocal access will help U.S. farmers compete globally.
Biofuels play a dual role in powering the nation and stabilizing farm incomes. Expanding year-round E15 sales and providing timely incentives for sustainable fuels can boost crop demand.
Restoring whole milk in schools would promote nutrition while increasing demand for U.S. dairy products, benefitting family farms.
Interstate commerce protections are needed to prevent fragmented rules that drive up food costs and harm farmers’ ability to sell across states.
Investigating input price imbalances through transparency and fair competition will help lower fertilizer and equipment costs, improving profitability.
Finally, prioritizing U.S.-grown fruits and vegetables in federal purchasing supports domestic growers and keeps food dollars circulating within rural communities.
“Keeping farmers in business is essential to America’s strength,” said AFBF’s John Newton.
Photo Credit: american-farm-bureau-federation
Categories: National