BY TAMMIE SLOUP
Looking around the meeting room at the 11 Illinois Farm Bureau members, Ryan Whitehouse offered a piece of advice as the group prepared to start their Leaders to Washington trip.
“Don’t be intimidated,” IFB’s director of national legislation told the members, many of whom were visiting the nation’s capital for the first time.
Whitehouse also offered a warning: “Your feet will be tired.”
Every Leaders to Washington trip, in which members typically visit with federal agency representatives, industry groups, House Ag Committee staff as well as U.S. senators and representatives, starts with a briefing from IFB’s national legislative team followed by American Farm Bureau Federation staff.
As Whitehouse and Allie Speer, IFB assistant director of policy development and advocacy, prepped the members for their two days of meetings with updates on topline issues such as trade, farm income and the farm bill, they stressed personal stories are what make a difference.
The Sept. 9-10 visit homed in on the farm economy and what’s needed to ensure farmers can pass down farms to the next generations.
From a loan officer to generational grain farmer to specialty grower, IFB leaders helped carry that message, bringing a variety of backgrounds and careers to help tell Illinois farmers’ stories from different perspectives.
Here’s a snapshot of how IFB members spent their time in Washington, D.C., from meetings with elected officials, to a scooter ride capping off the trip.
FSA loans
USDA previously released a policy agenda that included reforming the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Rural Development loan programs to streamline delivery and increase program efficiencies, which IFB members told FSA Administrator Bill Beam is a positive step.
Members also took the opportunity to share some of the headaches they’ve experienced, specifically with USDA Beginning Farmer Loans.
The group also asked about the impact of USDA’s reorganization plan on local FSA offices. The proposed reorganization involves closure of several Washington, D.C. buildings and moving 2,600 staff to five locations around the country.
After releasing the plan July 24, the department extended its original deadline for comments from Aug. 31 to Sept. 30.
The push for a skinny farm bill
Members stressed the importance of a completed farm bill as soon as possible. The current legislation, which was up for reauthorization two years ago, has been extended until Sept. 30. However, as Congress also has a Sept. 30 deadline to pass an appropriations package to keep the government open, it’s unclear when the House Ag Committee will restart farm bill discussions. Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa., has told committee members he hoped to start as soon as members returned from August recess.
Congress passed a budget reconciliation bill in July, which included extensive tax provisions for farm taxpayers. But dozens of farm bill programs still must be addressed in a full farm bill, including Conservation Reserve Program reauthorization, as well as programs within the credit, Rural Development, research and energy titles. Ag groups, including IFB, are advocating for a Proposition 12 fix to also be included in the next farm bill.
Members told House Ag Committee staff it’s becoming more difficult for farmers to pencil out their inputs, and while recent emergency assistance, including the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program, is much appreciated, a more long-term solution is needed.
On the White House campus
As in previous visits, the group met with staff from the White House Office of the Public Liaison, as well as a U.S. Trade Representative official about the need for signed trade deals that open markets for farmers. Staff from the President’s Economic Council also joined the meeting.
One significant trade agreement — the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement — is set for a review in 2026, which will assess its effectiveness and determine its future, including potential modifications and extensions. Members learned the Federal Register notice is expected to be published in early October.
Vaden addresses Midwest Farm Bureaus
Members also heard from USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden at USDA headquarters about the department’s efforts with trade, New World Screwworm, Rural Development and the recently announced department reorganization plan.
This was the second time in a month IFB members heard from Vaden in person, the first being a roundtable hosted by IFB during Farm Progress Show.
Content for this story was provided by FarmWeekNow.com.