MCGA government relations chair optimistic after fly-in
The chair of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association’s Government Relations Committee says she’s more optimistic about the organization’s federal policy priorities after participating in its spring fly-in last week in Washington, D.C.
Dana Allen-Tully was among the MCGA farmer-leaders who participated in the annual event. The group met with members of Minnesota’s congressional delegation, U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson, U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman, and staffers from USDA, EPA, and the White House National Economic Council.
Allen-Tully said lawmakers have a deep understanding of the financial challenges in farm country and that “there is a lot of will to get a stronger safety net sooner than later.”
“Reauthorization of the same Farm Bill is not really on anybody’s wish list,” she said, adding that lawmakers recognized that the $10 billion disaster aid package passed in December is just a first step. “They want to strengthen the safety net before they go forward.”
The Farm Bil includes programs such as federal crop insurance, Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC), and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) that support farmers who experience natural disasters, adverse growing conditions, and/or low market prices. These programs help ensure that U.S. farm families can compete on a global playing field distorted by high and rising foreign subsidies, tariffs, and non-tariff trade barriers. But given that they were written in 2012, when production costs were significantly lower, they don’t adequately protect farmers, particularly as costs continue to rise.
Allen-Tully also said that lawmakers agreed with farmer-leaders that U.S. farmers need meaningful access to foreign markets. She said the group stressed the importance of Canada and Mexico as trading partners and said free trade agreements that provide market access for U.S. agriculture are critical.
Lawmakers also agreed with farmer-leaders on the importance of permanent year-round E15, the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), Allen-Tully said. She said they recognize that increasing domestic markets for biofuels will help increase stability for corn farmers and is consistent with President Trump’s goal of increasing domestic sales of U.S. agricultural products.
MCGA thanks lawmakers from both political parties and members of the administration for meeting with farmer-leaders during the fly-in. You can learn more about the organization’s policy priorities here.
