IFBF leaders voice concerns in DC

     Forty-seven Iowa Farm Bureau leaders from across the state visited Washington, D.C. recently to discuss critical farm issues and their impact with their elected officials during the annual Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) national policy trip.

     The group included Renee and Chad Adams of Monticello, Mark Buskohl of Grundy Center, Devon Schott of Tipton, and Scott Scheckel of Bellevue.

     The Iowa farmers shared their concerns about the lack of progress in trade disputes, resulting in low commodity prices and continued economic hardship in rural communities. Members from southwest Iowa also shared the impacts of flooding on their farms, which has eclipsed the damage from the 2011 flood, and urged lawmakers to support disaster relief aid.

     The Farm Bureau members met with Iowa’s U.S. House and Senate members as well as top U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) staff, including Deputy Secretary Steve Censky and former Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey, who now serves as USDA under secretary for farm production and conservation.

     They shared accounts of tapping into retirement savings, taking off-the-farm-jobs, and even family members being forced to step away from farming all together due to low commodity prices resulting from tariffs and shrinking demand for ethanol.

     Aaron Hinnah, a Mahaska County leader, said the downturn in the ag economy has forced him to put plans to farm with his parents on hold and instead look for a full-time job until circumstances change, because the current climate just can’t support two families.

     Brad Black, a Calhoun County farmer who raises corn, soybeans, and hogs, said he suffered several thousand dollars in losses last year due to depressed prices for soybeans and hogs.  “I can attribute my loss of income to the tariffs that we have with China,” Black said.  “These are the real economic issues that are impacting farmers today.”

     In addition to the year-long tariff disputes, the Iowa Farm Bureau leaders said Congress needs to pass the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which improves access for dairy, wheat, and poultry products.  The value of U.S. pork exports to Mexico, a major destination, have plummeted 28 percent in the past year, a devastating development for Iowa farmers who lead the nation in pork production.

     “Face-to-face meetings with our elected officials in Washington, D.C. are important to help them understand how policy decisions impact farmers back home in Iowa,” says Daniel Heady, IFBF national policy advisor.  “We appreciate members taking the time away from their farms to tell their story on Capitol Hill and make a real impact.”

     The Iowa Farm Bureau national policy trip takes place twice annually for select county leaders. Each year, half of Iowa’s 100 county Farm Bureaus have the opportunity to send a representative to speak on behalf of agriculture and rural Iowa.

     To learn more about the spring or summer national policy trip and other opportunities for Iowa Farm Bureau members, go to www.iowafarmbureau.com.