By Shelby Shank
Field Editor

Lawmakers can read reports and statistics, but seeing agriculture firsthand gives a deeper understanding of how federal policy affects farmers and ranchers.

To help provide that perspective, Texas Farm Bureau invited U.S. Rep. Brandon Gill to visit  Cooke County Farm Bureau member Jared Bayer’s farm in during the August congressional recess.

“I toured Bayer’s farm and learned about his family’s ranch, seed operation and how they keep everything going,” Gill said. “With input prices squeezing farmers out in what is already a tough business, it was helpful to hear about the challenges they’re facing and how they’re coping with them.”

Gill said the discussion covered a wide range of issues currently impacting Texas farmers and ranchers.

“We talked about New World screwworm and a lot about feral hogs, which has gotten to the point where farmers are having to stop planting in certain areas where the hogs are a problem,” he said. “Of course, we talked about input prices and trade. We talked about taxes as well, especially as it relates to the death tax and taxes related to LLCs and S Corps in particular.”

The visit gave Gill an opportunity to learn about those challenges up close and how Congress can help with solutions. “It’s one thing to read about the issues farmers and ranchers are facing, but it’s another to see it upfront and hear from the people living it,” Gill said. “It’s my job to make sure that we’re fighting for them whenever I get back to Washington, D.C., and hearing from them firsthand helps me do that.”

Bayer, who farms and ranches with his father and brother, said he appreciated the opportunity to share the realities of agriculture with Gill.

“The meeting went really well,” Bayer said. “We told him about what we do, the issues we’re facing, and he said he’s looking into a lot of those things. He was very receptive to what we had to say.”

Bayer noted inviting lawmakers to visit farms and ranches strengthens the relationship between elected officials and their constituents.

“It’s an honor to have him out on our farm, and it makes you feel good that they are listening to their people, finding out what’s going on and letting us know what they’re doing to help,” he said. “It gives them a better idea of what to address when they see firsthand what’s happening in agriculture.”

Texas Farm Bureau will continue hosting meetings with congressional lawmakers during the August recess.