Commentary: Farmers show they are 'a force to be reckoned with'

Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, appears on stage for his address at the AFBF Annual Convention in Puerto Rico. He told the crowd, “The American people trust you and me as farmers.” 

By Zippy Duvall 

Just five years ago, Hurricane Maria devastated the island of Puerto Rico. Eighty percent of the crops were destroyed. Buildings were flattened. As aid came in, there was a problem. Federal aid was mainly going to larger farms. We stepped up to lend a hand and advocate for our family here, and aid started flowing to all farms—large and small.

Across the island, farmers saw what Farm Bureau could do. Since then, Puerto Rico Farm Bureau membership has more than doubled.

Hard times show us who our true friends are. We stand with you by equipping you with skills to be the best advocates in the country. We are a force to be reckoned with. Last year, you sent more than 38,000 messages to lawmakers and regulators, more than 100 messages each and every day.

For example, when the Security Exchange Commission wanted to require all companies to report greenhouse gas emissions in their supply chains, we knew it would have big effects on our farms. That rule could have meant more red tape and confusing paperwork. Farm Bureau members generated nearly 5,000 messages to the SEC, and we got their attention.

When the threat loomed of increased taxes through changes to stepped-up basis, you sent more than 7,000 messages to Congress sharing how those changes could devastate family farms.

And when we issued our action alert on the “waters of the United States” rule last year, you all stood up and made your voices heard. In the first 36 hours, our members sent over 3,800 messages to the Environmental Protection Agency.

We took our seat at the table. We hosted roundtables with government agencies. You submitted comments explaining why we needed a rule that was clear, fair and easy to understand.

EPA Administrator Michael Regan did attempt to clarify the rules around prior converted cropland, ponds and ditches. But overall, the rule muddies the water. It creates confusion that will require more paperwork, more delays, and yes, more lawyers. We’re not done yet.

It’s so important we stay engaged on the issues. Invite members of Congress and their staff out to your farm.

One of the recent successes we’ve had is passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act. We worked with members on both sides of the aisle and President Joe Biden to get this bill across the finish line. I hope it will start to fix problems that we’ve seen in ocean shipping the last couple years. It might also help relieve some other price increases we’re experiencing.

As I traveled around the country this year visiting your farms and ranches, there are three issues I heard about everywhere.

First, the farm bill is critical to American agriculture. We must protect and expand crop insurance. We need to ensure conservation programs remain voluntary and science based. And we must keep farm policy unified with nutrition policy. When ag and hunger advocates lock arms, we have our best chance of success.

There is also a lot of discussion about advancing climate-smart farming practices. We are at the table for that discussion through our leadership in the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance. It is important to ensure that any additional resources go to voluntary, market-based programs.

Issue No. 2 is labor. The lack of workers is holding back agriculture. It’s holding back American businesses. It’s holding back our rural communities.

The third issue is sustainability. We’ve had some awesome success ensuring new programs are in line with our policies. Congress passed the SUSTAINS Act and a revised Growing Climate Solutions Act to help implement voluntary, market-driven programs on our farms.

Farmers are innovators. We’re always looking for ways to do better by our land. We’re taking back the narrative. We’re demonstrating our commitment to our soil, to our water and to the air we all breathe.

Here’s the cool thing: The American people trust you and me as farmers. Surveys show they trust us more than the federal government and more than environmental groups.

We need to keep coming to the table, building on that public trust and sharing our story with everyone from Washington lawmakers to our neighbors down the road.

When you put together all the things the Farm Bureau family is doing, it is so powerful: neighbors helping neighbors; the work we do at all levels of government; our leadership training and advocacy each and every day; sharing your stories and giving back to our communities.

That’s what farmers do. We show up. I see the love of farming that binds us together. I am so proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with you as president of this great organization. God bless the American farmer.

(Zippy Duvall is president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. This article was adapted from his Jan. 8 address to the AFBF Annual Convention in Puerto Rico.)