Ag Policy Blog

Jake Zajkowski joined DTN in June 2026 as a Washington, D.C.-based correspondent covering political affairs and agricultural news. He covers USDA, Congress, the White House, farm bill negotiations and policy issues in farm country.

Before transitioning into print and digital journalism in 2023, he worked in farm broadcasting and turfgrass Extension communications. Jake has contributed to numerous agricultural publications over the years including Farm & Dairy, AgDaily, Offrange, Agri-Pulse and the Cornell Chronicle. An active member of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists, he has traveled and reported across four continents.

Raised in northwest Ohio, Jake got his start in agriculture by owning a landscaping business and managing a vertical tomato greenhouse. Time spent in FFA and its leadership pathways shaped his interest in the grain and livestock sectors. He later moved to New York to earn a degree in agricultural sciences from Cornell University, developing a deep appreciation for the wine and cider industries while working closely with dairy too. He has lived in Ohio, New York, Austria and now Washington, D.C.

Jake's curiosity lies in the farm economy, the Great Lakes, conservation practices, controlled environment agriculture, land-grant universities, EU agri-food policies, turfgrass, Ohio politics, agriculture geography, intensive farming and environmental law.

POLICY STARTS ON THE FARM

Two weeks ago, I sat down for a conversation with Sen. Boozman, R-Ark., the Senate Agriculture Committee chairman. He is a quiet-spoken, thoughtful communicator who's never worked in farm country but has made it his mission to serve it.

I discussed agricultural media and my role as a farm journalist in town. One reflection I shared was that everyone across America farms for a different reason.

One producer might enjoy using farm machinery and working with tillage implements, while another is driven by attaining the highest yield possible while helping fuel the country. Some want to grow food to feed their local communities; others aim to feed the world through exports. Many are in the business of keeping land productive -- farmers and landowners alike. And almost all want to preserve the traditions that have shaped their operations.

While these motivations are not mutually exclusive, each one influences what we prioritize in our advocacy and what may be on someone else's agenda.

One thought that came to mind during my conversation with the senator is that agriculture's "why" often manifests itself in policy differences.

People who use the land in different ways often hold different principles about how it should be governed. Some debates are rooted in principle -- such as the role of interstate commerce laws or whether policymakers should continue providing ad hoc aid versus fixing a broken system. Other disagreements center on science, from appropriate gestation crate sizes to the use of glyphosate as a crop protection tool.

I spend my time understanding these issues, as well as the perspectives of both their proponents and opponents -- a reflection of the diverse opinions and practices found across farm country.

This diversity of thought is powerful and should not be underestimated.

I have never been afraid to explore these tough issues. When I lived in New York for several years, there was a quietness when dairies were struggling, but a loud voice emerged when it came time to sell land for renewable energy to recoup years of hardship and find a profitable path forward.

In Ohio, there is the desire for improved rural communities that could benefit from the tax abatements associated with data centers, while others are fundamentally opposed to converting productive agricultural land to non-agricultural uses.

Growing up, a resentment toward farmers formed when the Toledo water crisis cut off my family's water supply for a month because of harmful algal blooms. I grew up learning about row-crop production in the lens of state-funded conservation.

Maybe you have already noticed this diversity of thought in primary elections and the hold-ups surrounding traditionally bipartisan budget bills in Congress.

Despite the financial books not balancing out for some crops this year, I would consider this season the Super Bowl, the World Cup and the Olympics all happening at once -- where, if the game is won, long-term victories for farm country could be on the horizon.

These issues include everything you may not need an introduction to, including the farm bill, additional supplemental aid, workforce reform, input costs or renewable fuel changes.

While we are not athletes in every sport, we all share the same hobby and the same business of survival: farm policy.

So, while you farm and plan the future of your homeland, we will make sense of what is happening inside Washington.

And when you have a problem with a farm agency, a breakthrough farm invention, a coalition pushing a policy idea or a success story, DTN/Progressive Farmer wants to hear about it. Ideas, stories or tips -- you know where to find me.

In Washington, of course.

Read more in the latest Editors' Notebook blog, "Welcome New Expertise," at https://www.dtnpf.com/….

Jake Zajkowski can be reached at jake.zajkowski@dtn.com

Follow him on social platform X @jzajkow

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