Ag Groups Congratulate Trump on Win

By Jerry Hagstrom, DTN Political Correspondent, and Chris Clayton, DTN Ag Policy Editor

WASHINGTON (DTN) -- Several agriculture-related groups on Wednesday congratulated President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance while detailing a laundry list of priorities they would like to see passed.

These include:

-- Pass a farm bill, potentially as early as the lame-duck session of Congress, as well as pass disaster assistance for producers.

-- Pass a tax package in 2025 to avoid potential tax hikes.

-- Modernize the H-2A migrant worker program to ensure farmers have the labor they need.

-- Approve year-round E15 nationally.

-- Reset regulations passed under the Biden administration, such as livestock competition rules.

-- Repeal EPA's Power Plant Rule to help boost rural power production.

Groups avoided mentioning Trump's support for tariffs, and they did not address some of the goals set by Trump supporter Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has called for overhauling regulations on pesticides and processed food products.

Keeff Felty, president of the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG), congratulated Trump and incoming congressional leaders, but said lawmakers should be productive in the lame-duck session.

"Wheat growers are seeking action during the lame duck to enact a farm bill and economic assistance by the end of the year that supports growers as we continue to face increased input costs, depressed prices, and weather-related disasters," Felty said. "It is critical that we continue to advance those policy initiatives immediately and work with everyone in the 119th Congress to foster public policy initiatives that help our farmers and rural communities thrive."

Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, also said a farm bill is critical for producers right now. He also touched on taxes, which will be a major focus in 2025 as major provisions from the 2017 tax cuts expire.

"Among the most pressing issues in rural America is the need for a new, modernized farm bill," Duvall said. "The two-year delay is unacceptable. The new administration must also address the impending tax hikes, which would crush many of America's farmers and ranchers when stacked on top of inflation, high supply costs and market instability."

Another big issue on farmers' minds is the labor shortage and skyrocketing costs.

CEO of the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) Cathy Burns said, "Congress must take swift action to pass a new, inclusive farm bill that addresses the evolving needs of U.S. agriculture." She said the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, which IFPA co-chairs alongside more than 200 organizations, "is making the case for a robust package of policy and program proposals to Congress, aimed at strengthening specialty crop agriculture and broadening the reach of U.S. agricultural policy."

Burns also pointed to the need for meaningful immigration reform.

"The viability of many American growers is at risk, so Congress must finally act to meaningfully address the critical lack of on-farm labor that threatens our ability to meet consumer demand for fresh, nutritious food," she said.

"The produce sector relies on an affordable, stable workforce and is currently facing crippling workforce shortages and rising costs that routinely exceed crop values. The H-2A program is the primary labor source for U.S. produce growers, yet Congress is paralyzed by decades of inaction and has ignored the need for reforms to improve the program's accessibility to producers and its reliability in securely vetting and protecting temporary foreign workers. IFPA will continue to fight for the need for reliable labor solutions that ensure American growers can continue to feed our nation and the world," Burns said.

Kenneth Hartman Jr., president of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), said the group looks forward to working on policies such as biofuels. "We especially appreciate President Trump's recognition that homegrown fuels, like ethanol, are important for our nation's energy security and rural economies. We are also eager to work with his administration and Congress to enact improved farm policies and programs, expand market opportunities and build on the tax policies enacted during President Trump's first term that are beneficial to corn farmers as they face a challenging financial outlook with low prices and high costs."

Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy and Geoff Cooper, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, each mentioned Trump championing "American-made" fuel, which led Skor and Cooper to call for year-round access to E15.

"During his first term, President Trump delivered on E15 to bring lower-cost fuel to American consumers, and we support him enacting a permanent solution that will deliver continued savings at the pump for all Americans, all months, across all 50 states," Skor said.

Cooper also added that Trump voiced support for ethanol and specifically pushed for nationwide year-round availability of E15.

Cooper concluded, "By fully embracing E15, we will reduce dependence on foreign oil by up to 250 million additional barrels every single year. Quite simply, it means more energy. And what can be wrong with that?"

Megan Tanel, president of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), said the group looks forward to "working with the Trump-Vance administration and leaders on both sides of the aisle to advance pro-manufacturing tax policies, strengthen rural America, ease regulatory burdens, negotiate new trade agreements, and solve the immigration crisis. Together, we can advance a policy agenda that helps equipment manufacturers create jobs, invest in their communities, and build equipment that makes life better for everyone."

Ethan Lane, vice president of government affairs for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, said producers have struggled under Biden administration policies. "NCBA is excited to work with the president-elect to undo the harm which cattle producers have endured under four years of 'Bidenomics' and restore the free-market principles which have made U.S. cattle and beef the finest and safest in the world. Despite cattle prices soaring to record highs over the previous years, producers have been squeezed by exceptionally high input costs, record inflation, and the Biden administration's so-called competition agenda. This is the perfect opportunity to execute a hard reset on all of these failed policies."

Jim Matheson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, laid out several policies such as repealing the EPA's Power Plant Rule, reforming permitting requirements for power infrastructure, and protecting the four dams on the Snake River in Washington state.

"America is at an energy crossroads, and the reliability of the electric grid hangs in the balance," Matheson said. "Critical generation resources are being retired faster than they can be reliably replaced. At the same time, electricity demand is skyrocketing as power-hungry data centers and new manufacturing facilities come online. Smart energy policies that keep the lights on are more important than ever."

Also see "Declaring Victory, Trump Completes Comeback With 'A Powerful Mandate' From Voters" here: https://www.dtnpf.com/….

Jerry Hagstrom can be reached at jhagstrom@nationaljournal.com

Follow him on social platform X @hagstromreport

Chris Clayton can be reached at Chris.Clayton@dtn.com

Follow him on social platform X @ChrisClaytonDTN

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