WASHINGTON – More than 250 family farmers and ranchers from across the country joined together in Washington, DC last week to urge Congress to act, for farmers’ sake, as part of the National Farmers Union (NFU) Fall Legislative Fly-In. Over the course of the week, Farmers Union members attended hundreds of Congressional meetings and met with several federal agencies.
“Farm country is facing a crisis, and America’s family farmers and ranchers need their elected representatives to listen to the challenges they’re facing and take action,” said NFU President Rob Larew. “Farmers are earning less than ever, consumers are paying more and corporate profits are soaring. Our members are here to remind Congress not to leave farmers and ranchers behind.”
Eighteen Wisconsin Farmers Union members were among those taking part in the NFU Fly-In. Participants visited the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), where they heard from USDA Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations Tucker Stewart; Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Bill Bean; USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Aubrey Bettencourt; and USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer.
Bettencourt highlighted the need for increased efficiency within USDA, with a focus on a “one farmer, one file” initiative across agencies. Meyer underscored the vital role that publicly available agricultural data play in decision-making.
“We produce a global balance sheet,” Meyer said. “It’s a real challenge to keep up with technology changes, but if we don’t rise to that challenge, then there’s a few people that know an awful lot.”
Following the USDA briefing, Farmers Union members visited Capitol Hill for a briefing with congressional leaders and staff, including Senate Agriculture Committee Members Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Rep. Josh Riley (D-NY), and other leaders and staff to provide policy updates about the status of farm legislation and fly-in priority topics.
While visiting Washington D.C., Farmers Union members held conversations highlighting the need for more robust support at farmer-facing USDA agencies such as the Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service, as well as greater DOJ enforcement of antitrust laws to curb corporate monopolies that squeeze farmers’ profits and drive up the cost of production.
Members also advocated for finishing the five-year farm bill and funding local and regional food procurement. They called for immediate assistance for farmers facing financial uncertainty and other provisions that will benefit family farmers, ranchers, and rural communities across the country, while also addressing the current crisis that farmers and ranchers are facing across the country.
“Wisconsin’s farmers can’t wait any longer,” said Wisconsin Farmers Union President Darin Von Ruden. “We need a farm bill that delivers fairness in the marketplace and stability for rural communities. Farmers are doing their part to feed and fuel this country, and now it’s time for Congress to do theirs.”
WFU President Darin Von Ruden, Westby, was joined by board, staff, and members at the fly-in, including: Lindsey Baris, River Falls; LaToya Bates, Milwaukee; Camryn Billen, Eau Claire; Linda Ceylor, Catawba; Layne Cozzolino, Amherst Junction; Jess D’Souza, Mt. Horeb; Sadie Elwood, Chippewa Falls; Julia Keegan, Augusta; Joshua Mechaelsen, Waukesha; Dave Michelson, DeForest; Noreen Mucha, Waukesha; Austin Pethan, Chilton; Michelle Ramirez-White, Madison; Dave Rosen, Glenwood City; Kate Rosen, Glenwood City; Erin Thompson, Madison; and Elizabeth Yost, Chippewa Falls.
