Indiana farmers need long-term Farm Bill in 2024
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Congress recently approved a one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill, and for that we are grateful. Farmers, consumers, the economy, and our nation’s security would have suffered without that temporary fix and near-term certainty. But as we look to 2024, we need a longer-term solution that offers the agriculture community the flexibility to plan their operations.
Here at Co-Alliance, we take our role in helping farmers succeed seriously. We have been owned and driven by farmers since 1927 and have walked alongside our farmer-owners as they have evolved, met business challenges head on, adapted their practices and programs to increase yield on every acre, and embraced new technologies at rapid speeds. Today’s farm families are entrepreneurs managing complexity and risk and running multi-million-dollar operations, all while staying rooted in the history and tradition that contributed to the legacy of their family.
As today’s agricultural landscape continues to rapidly evolve, the need for effective communication between the farmer-owned cooperative and elected officials has become more critical than ever. As a foundation of our rural communities and the backbone of many of our farm businesses, farmer-owned cooperatives possess the knowledge and insights that can shape policies, drive innovation, and ensure sustainable growth. By actively engaging with elected officials, cooperatives can develop a mutually beneficial relationship that promotes the interests of our farmer-owners and consumers.
Recently Co-Alliance hosted U.S. Senator Mike Braun at our Malden Agronomy & Grain Facility and at our Corporate Headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana. Senator Braun was able to see the passion our team has for delivering high quality products, services, and leading insights to our farmer-owners.
Indiana’s nearly 100,000 farmers feed the world and contribute an estimated $35.1 billion to our state’s economy. Our state’s farmers not only cultivate 15 million acres of land, but they also care deeply about the conservation of that land to protect it for future generations. During the Senator’s time and conversations with our team, he saw the commitment of Co-Alliance to the promotion of sustainable solutions to our farmers through Truterra, the agricultural sustainability business of Land O’Lakes Inc., as well as our continued support of regenerative ag opportunities.
Matt Wohlman, Vice President of Government and Industry Affairs at Land O’ Lakes, joined the tour and spoke with the Senator about the importance of the cooperative system and why the Farm Bill carries such importance to rural America. While touring our Malden facility, Senator Braun experienced one of the nation’s largest retail ag facilities and saw first-hand the importance of continued investment in those facilities, so our farm families have access to the resources required to plant and tend to a crop, and the appropriate facilities to market that crop to a global economy.
When visiting our Indianapolis office, I was able to host the Senator for a discussion about the Farm Bill.
It’s important that farmers and their suppliers are at the table when important decisions are being made that impact their ability to produce the word’s food supply. In 2024 we are counting on Senator Braun and the Senate Agriculture Committee to keep us strong with a long-term bill that contains:
- A commitment to federal policies that promote a competitive agriculture sector, healthy rural communities and support that allows farmers to remain productive and profitable while employing sustainable practices.
- Fair access to labor options will improve the opportunity for retailers and farmers alike to tend to the business of agriculture.
- A commitment for equal commerce across all states.
- A commitment to providing predictability by ensuring there are no lapses in funding or authorities for Farm Bill programs, while funding improvements to Farm Bill programs.
- A commitment to advancing policies that are voluntary and incentive-based for growers.
When Sen. Braun visited, we also discussed the introduction of the Increased TSP Access Act to help make conservation program application assistance more accessible for our farmers, ultimately helping our nation’s conservation programs achieve their goal in helping producers improve sustainable outcomes.
I enjoyed our time with the Senator and appreciate the fact that our representative took the time to listen to us. I believe firmly that the farmer-owned cooperative must play a pivotal role in connecting our policy makers to the heart of those impacted by the policies. By doing so, together we can create a sustainable, resilient, and prosperous agricultural industry that meets the needs of today’s consumers, while sustaining our resources for future generations.