A new study from the acclaimed economists Drs. Joe Outlaw and Bart Fischer at the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M, and specially prepared for the Southwest Council of Agribusiness, takes a closer look at these policies and their impact on farm families. Dr. Outlaw joined us on the latest episode of Groundwork.

We recently called up Richard Syverson, a fourth-generation farmer and president of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA), for our most recent episode of the Groundwork podcast. Richard and MCGA work on behalf of Minnesota’s 24,000 corn farmers, who together with neighboring states Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska, produce more than half of the country’s corn.

It’s a startling statistic, considering the vital role of farmers in our daily lives. With a growing global population and a dwindling number of farmers and ranchers, it’s critical that farm policies support the next generation of producers. 

Thankfully, the National FFA Organization, made up of over 850,000 students across the nation, is working hard to grow interest in agriculture, expand agricultural education, and develop new leaders.

Ryan Williamson and Piper Merritt, two young leaders who got their start in FFA, recently joined Farm Policy Fact’s Groundwork podcast to discuss the importance of agriculture policy and share how lawmakers can help encourage young farmers by investing in smart policies in this year’s upcoming Farm Bill. 

That’s because only a fraction of a percent of federal spending is directed towards the farm safety net. Yet, that small budget supports family farmers, protects our national food security, and drives economic growth.

Dr. Bart Fischer, a Farm Bill veteran and co-director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University, joins Farm Policy Fact’s Groundwork podcast to put the farm safety net into perspective.

“Rural America needs it,” he explained on the most recent episode of Farm Policy Fact's Groundwork podcast. “Our farmers, ranchers, and foresters, our processors – key stakeholders in rural America – demand it. And we need to do our job.”

Listen to the full episode to hear Chairman Thompson's insights on the 2023 Farm Bill and learn more at FarmPolicyFacts.org. 

Jim Sugarek, president of the Southwest Council of Agribusiness, told the Groundwork podcast that each of the half a million farms across the southwest have one thing in common: “They are fathers and daughters, they’re husbands and wives. They are families that are all trying to produce a great product for our nation.”

Listen in as Jim talks about the incredible importance of family farmers to rural economies and our national food supply and the need for a strong farm safety net. Learn more at FarmPolicyFacts.org. 

Learn more at FarmPolicyFacts.org.

“It’s very difficult what that one percent of the population does to farm and ranch and provide food for every single American, because every American eats,” he recently said on the Groundwork podcast.

Pfluger joined Farm Policy Facts to discuss how farming contributes to the security of our nation, and the critical role that farm policy plays in ensuring that this security remains uncompromised.

Learn more at FarmPolicyFacts.org. 

Jocelyn is much more likely to be found in front of a computer than driving a combine. She uses her accounting and analytical skills to help her family make data-driven decisions on their farm.

Learn more at FarmPolicyFacts.org.

“That is a very big task for a very small group of people,” crop insurance agent Joanie Grimes recently told Farm Policy Facts on our Groundwork podcast

It’s a task that comes with big risks, too. Joanie, an agent with the Auburn Agency in Ohio and a board member of the Crop Insurance Professionals Association (CIPA), joined Groundwork to talk about the challenges facing farmers today – and how crop insurance is a vital component of the farm safety net that protects them.

Ethanol is a low-carbon, high-performance biofuel made from American-grown crops such as corn and sorghum. Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy, the nation’s largest ethanol trade association, joined us on Groundwork to talk more about how farmers help fuel America. 

So, when USDA released its updated report on America’s Diverse Family Farms – a critical report on American farm production, but one that is easily open to misinterpretation and misuse by farm policy critics – we knew we had to get Kevin’s insights.

In the wake of these unprecedented conditions, Congress commissioned a new report from the Agricultural and Food Policy Center (AFPC) to examine fed cattle pricing, packing capacity, and related issues.

Now, Miller is arming everyday Americans with the real facts about agriculture. It’s all part of her mission as the Farm Babe.

“I’m particularly proud of that because I think our sugar farmers are among some of the best in the world at what they do.”

Roney would know. After 25 years of working at ASA, and nearly 50 years total working in agriculture, there might be no one else in America that understands the ins and outs of the sugar industry as well as Roney does. Luckily, Farm Policy Facts had the opportunity to speak with Roney prior to his retirement in August. 

Verett joined Farm Policy Fact’s Groundwork podcast to reflect on his career and talk about what lies ahead for the next generation of farm leaders.

We wanted to dig into the real story behind this beef with beef. So, we called up Dr. Tryon Wickersham, an Associate Professor of Animal Nutrition at Texas A&M University, to give Groundwork listeners the facts about cattle production in America.

Rather than build a policy that works on Capitol Hill but not on the farm, Arkansas rice farmer Mark Isbell instead recommends that we look to rural America to identify existing opportunities to support farmers and ranchers through smart policy.

His retirement was short-lived.

Collin Peterson is utilizing his decades of expertise to once again tackle the challenges facing rural America and joined Groundwork to discuss what's on the horizon for farm policy.

That was one of the messages esteemed ag economist Dr. Rob Johansson shared on this month’s episode of Groundwork.

Dr. Johansson is the Associate Director of Economics and Policy Analysis at the American Sugar Alliance (ASA), a position he recently assumed after previously serving as Chief Economist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

That’s how Brandon Willis, former Administrator of the Risk Management Agency and a previous Senior Advisor to Secretary Vilsack, described the Secretary of Agriculture nominee to Groundwork listeners on our most recent episode.

Willis joined the podcast to share some insights about his time working with Secretary Vilsack, as well as forecast where Secretary Vilsack might lead the agency.

Not only do America’s strong federal farm policies ensure that we all have reliable access to affordable food, they also share our generous bounty with our neighbors.

Nicole Berg, a fourth-generation farmer from Washington State and Vice President of the National Association of Wheat Growers, joined Groundwork to talk about how rural America gives back all year round through food aid.

Farmers are sure to face even more challenges as extreme storms and other destructive weather events threaten to upend harvest.

Groundwork spoke to crop insurance agents Casey Clipson and Jack Tank about the unique challenges of this year and the indispensable role that crop insurance plays in the farm safety net. 

On this episode of Groundwork, Farm Policy Facts talked to two guests from the sugar industry about how they’ve adapted their work to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thanks for listening! Stay tuned for future episodes that unpack the policy issues impacting America’s farmers.