DTN Ag Policy Blog

The American Farm Bureau Federation on Friday sent letters to President Donald Trump and congressional leaders stressing "the severe economic pressures facing America's farmers and ranchers" and suggesting multiple policy measures the federal government should take to stabilize the farm economy.

As DTN has highlighted, frustrations are mounting during harvest over low prices and high input costs. See, "Ag Economy Under Pressure," https://www.dtnpf.com/…

AFBF noted, "Falling crop prices, skyrocketing expenses and trade disputes are creating conditions that are too much for farm families to bear."

Along with calling for an aid package, or "bridge payments," the letters to the president and Congress also propose other multiple actions.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, during a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, alluded to the administration working to provide an aid package to farmers, but said the federal government would need to reopen first.

Surprisingly, the AFBF letter to Congress does not specifically call on lawmakers to complete their work on a farm bill despite proposing other actions.

AFBF called on Congress and the Trump administration to address:

-Fair and enforceable trade agreements;

-Policy on biofuels, including year-round sales of E15;

-Restoration of whole milk in schools;

-Protecting interstate commerce;

-Investigating prices for major agricultural supplies;

-Enforcing laws and regulations that protect competition, fairness and transparency;

-Prioritizing American-grown fruits and vegetables in federal and institutional purchasing programs.

Zippy Duvall, president of AFBF, said in a news release, "Across the country, farms are disappearing as families close the gates on the farms tended by their parents, grandparents and generations before them. Every farm lost takes with it generations of knowledge, community leadership and the heartbeat of local economies: fewer kids in schools, fewer trucks at the grain elevator, fewer small businesses that keep rural towns alive. As those farms disappear, so too does America's food independence: our ability to feed ourselves without relying on foreign supply chains."

AFBF noted, "Prices paid for crops have fallen off a cliff since 2022, and U.S. agriculture has experienced a trade deficit during the same time period. Lingering questions with trade partners, particularly China, have added to volatility in farm country and left farmers with uncertainty about their futures."

Duvall's letters added, "In the short term, we urge leaders to authorize bridge payments for farmers before the end of 2025. These payments must be robust enough to address sector-wide gaps and provide meaningful support as the federal government works to recalibrate trade strategies, stabilize prices, and strengthen key market relationships."

In the midst of a government shutdown in which the two parties continue to talk past one another, Duvall's letter called for leadership.

"Federal leadership can now prevent a deepening crisis by taking steps to preserve our agricultural infrastructure and ensure the next generation of farmers and ranchers can continue feeding the world."

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

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