Ag Policy Blog

American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman responded to the State of the Union speech on Tuesday by praising the president's push to pass immigration reform.

“The American Farm Bureau Federation welcomes President Obama’s call in his State of the Union address for Congress to pass immigration reform. Many farmers rely on an immigrant labor force, and, without reform, growers will begin to plant less labor-intensive crops or go off shore. Farm Bureau is urging Congress to pass an agriculture labor program with both short- and long-term stability. It’s a way to keep our experienced workforce, while making sure we have access to a legal workforce through a streamlined and flexible guest worker program in the future. Simply put, either we import our labor or we import our food.

Stallman added, “Tax reform is a priority for farmers and ranchers and we welcome the president’s comments on this important issue. We believe that any tax reform proposal considered by Congress must be comprehensive. It is critical that it include individual, as well as corporate tax reform. More than 96% of farms and 75% of farm sales are taxed under IRS provisions which affect individual taxpayers. Any tax reform proposal that fails to include the individual tax code will not help but would likely hurt our nation’s farmers and ranchers. These farmers could lose their business deductions, yet they would not benefit from lower corporate rates if only corporate taxes are revised.

“Expanded trade opportunities are vital to America’s farmers and ranchers, and we support the president’s call for Congress to pass Trade Promotion Authority. TPA is the catalyst needed to advance U.S. proposals to reduce tariffs and improve market access for farmers and ranchers in trade negotiations. The U.S. market is one of the most open in the world, yet our farmers and ranchers face high tariffs and other noncompetitive practices when they try to export their products. For U.S. agriculture to thrive, we have to correct these disparities and level the playing field.

“To take full advantage of expanded trade opportunities, however, we must upgrade our waterways transportation infrastructure and ports. We appreciate President Obama’s charge to Congress to pass a waterways transportation bill this year.”

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson praised President Obama's emphasis on renewable energy, but also asked the president to rethink the country's approach to trade talks. Johnson also discussed the need for immigration reform.

“NFU is encouraged by the president’s commitment to our country’s energy future. Passage of the farm bill conference report, with an investment of $900 million in renewable energy, will take the initial step toward reaching the president’s goal. As the president said, ‘climate change is a fact,’ and America’s farmers and ranchers are positioned to be a part of the solution.

“The president placed emphasis on bringing jobs home to America, and ‘Made in the USA’ goods. Family farmers and ranchers, too, are proud of the fruits of their labor, which is why we stand up for consumers by supporting Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL).

“Fair trade is important to family farmers, ranchers and rural communities, and I hope the president changes the United States’ approach to negotiating trade deals. We must deal with systemic issues, such as currency manipulation, and net a strategic goal of reducing our enormous trade deficits, which directly harm U.S. economic growth and kill too many American jobs.

Johnson added, “Immigration reform is critical to farmers and ranchers across the country. I hope Congress takes the president’s sentiments to heart and makes comprehensive immigration reform its next priority. This ought to be a priority for liberals, moderates and conservatives alike, as it will reduce the deficit by $1 trillion dollars in two decades.

“The president’s message tonight is that we are ‘ready for a year of action,’ and passing the farm bill would be a great start. NFU will continue to work with the administration and Congress to ensure that the next farm bill is passed and effectively implemented."

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