Recorded on September 18, 2024
“I don’t want to be discouraging this morning, but it’s important to provide a glimpse of today’s economic picture for agriculture. Unless conditions change, we are facing a perfect storm, though I don’t think it will be fully understood until next year when farmers are unable to secure loans because they can’t cash flow.”
This eye-opening statement was made by Dr. Dana Allen-Tully during a House Agriculture Committee Hearing on July 23 – clearly laying out what’s at stake if a Farm Bill is not passed this year.
Dr. Allen-Tully and her family own and operate a diversified farm in Eyota, Minnesota, and she’s recently wrapped up her term serving as President of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024. As a farmer herself, as well as a leader in the agricultural community, she is well-versed in the challenges farm country is facing – and what could happen if the next Farm Bill is delayed any further.
She recently joined the Groundwork podcast to share her thoughts on why Congress must take action on the Farm Bill now to help America’s farmers and ranchers succeed next year and in the years to come.
In her July 23 testimony, she clearly emphasized that the challenges producers are facing are felt across the country. The hearing, she noted, “really painted the correct picture of what is happening,” and highlighted the importance of Congress taking action.
On September 9, MCGA, along with over 300 other commodity groups, sent a letter to Congressional leaders calling for swift action, citing worsening economic conditions as a key reason why the Farm Bill must be passed before year’s end.
As Dr. Allen-Tully pointed out, “We only talk about the Farm Bill every 5 years. We already missed 2023. What’s going on in farm country today are all of the things that people are facing in their daily lives – inflationary prices have not slowed, and farmers see this in their input costs and costs of production.”
Dr. Allen-Tully explained that with current prices, it’s nearly impossible for farmers to cover their costs.
These pressures are now sparking some movement in Washington. Key leaders, including House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member David Scott (D-GA-13) and Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR) have called for action. Senator Boozman recently took to the Senate floor to call on Congress and the Administration to pass an emergency relief package and a Farm Bill that can provide a real safety net for the future.
Dr. Allen-Tully is hopeful, noting that key players are engaging in meaningful discussions. She closed with a powerful statement that’s resonated on Capitol Hill: “Rural America does not just want a Farm Bill, it needs one.”
We’re grateful to Dr. Allen-Tully and the many other key agricultural leaders using their voices to ensure America’s hardworking farm and ranch families have the vital protections they need to feed, fuel, and clothe the world.
To hear more in-depth thoughts and insights from Dr. Dana Allen-Tully, check out the full episode of Groundwork here.