By Shelby Shank
Field Editor
Nearly 350 Texas farmers, ranchers and landowners traveled to Washington, D.C., at the end of April to meet with lawmakers, share their stories and advocate for the future of rural America during Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) National Affairs Awards Trip.
The annual event is an opportunity for TFB members to meet with congressional leaders at the nation’s capital and advocate for TFB’s priority issues. The farm bill topped the list of issues, along with agricultural labor, trade, taxes and the New World screwworm.
Declining net farm income, a growing agricultural trade deficit, inflation and low commodity prices are taking their toll on the agricultural economy, further highlighting the need for a modernized farm bill.
“We have to get this farm bill done. We can’t continue relying on short-term extensions,” TFB President Russell Boening said. “The 2018 Farm Bill was great at the time, but it no longer meets the needs of agriculture today.”
A panel featuring U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson, Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman, Ranking Member of U.S. House Agriculture Committee Angie Craig and Ranking Member of U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Amy Klobuchar stressed the importance of passing a new farm bill.
“These are challenging times. This is probably the worst farm economy that we have seen in decades with low commodity prices and high input costs,” Thompson said. “If we don’t pass a farm bill, we risk food insecurity, economic instability and national security as a result of that. We need to get the farm bill done, and quite frankly, failure is not an option because this is an essential industry in our nation.”
Panelists discussed the critical role the farm bill plays in supporting U.S. agriculture and its impact on food security.
“Food insecurity is national security,” Boozman said. “We’ve got this imbalance of trade now, so we have to step up and Congress needs to get it done. This needs to be the farm bill that really puts the farm back in the farm bill.”
Farm Bureau members heard U.S. Sen. John Cornyn speak on trade and tariffs.
“I’m hopeful that with this 90-day pause that we’ll see the negotiation of some of these trade deals that will level the playing field and open up more markets to the things that you grow right here in the United States,” Cornyn said.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz also addressed the group on the 1944 Water Treaty between the U.S. and Mexico and the steps moving forward in ensuring Mexico abides by the water treaty.
“South Texas farmers has been suffering under an extraordinary drought for several years, and the consequences have been devastating,” Cruz said. “Farmers and ranchers are cutting their production—some by as much as half. They’re laying off workers, and the only sugar mill in Texas has shut down because farmers couldn’t get the water they needed to grow their crops. We’re going to ensure Mexico honors their water treaty commitments.”
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin emphasized the agency’s commitment to protecting the environment and growing the economy while still keeping the needs of U.S. agriculture in mind.
“There is nothing that you should keep to yourself. If you have a good idea on how the EPA could be doing a better job fighting for you, don’t hold anything back,” Zeldin said. “We’re not pacing ourselves. We’re just doing it all.”
Zeldin also highlighted how EPA is working to rewrite the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule to a create a clear, consistent definition nationwide that aligns with the Supreme Court’s ruling in Sackett v. EPA.
During the trip, the farmers and ranchers also heard from U.S. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer and U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, as well as U.S. Reps. Ronny Jackson and Pete Sessions.
The Texas farmers and ranchers made office visits to talk with Texas lawmakers and their staff about TFB priority issues.
The trip was held April 28 through May 1.
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