Content and image provided by National Farmers Union
This week, more than 400 farmers, ranchers, and food advocates are gathering online to speak directly with their elected representatives and administration officials as part of National Farmers Union’s (NFU) fall legislative fly-in.
The event is part of NFU’s long history of grassroots advocacy; since 1909, the organization’s members have traveled to Washington, D.C., to speak with their lawmakers about the issues that matter most to them. In a first, this year’s event was held completely online in order to ensure the health and wellbeing of attendees.
Like most recent fly-ins, the gathering began Monday with a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) briefing. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue provided pre-recorded remarks, acknowledging the damage that the pandemic has inflicted on agricultural markets and providing an overview of the ways that his agency is working to support affected farmers. Additionally, he highlighted recent trade deals with China, Mexico, and Canada, and indicated that the administration is working on opening up new markets in Europe and Africa, citing negotiations with Kenya and the United Kingdom. The Secretary’s video was followed by a live appearance from Deputy Under Secretary of Rural Development Bette Brand, who answered questions about rural broadband, medical infrastructure, climate resilience, pandemic relief, and strengthening local and regional food processing.
On Tuesday, fly-in participants heard from a number of legislators during a congressional briefing. Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi spent 45 minutes with the group, responding to inquiries about biofuels, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), climate legislation, the possibility of a follow-up stimulus package, and how best to protect food chain workers from covid-19. The remainder of the session featured Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture Collin Peterson as well as recorded messages from Senator Debbie Stabenow, Senator Jon Tester, and Representative Frank Lucas.
Throughout the week, attendees are joining small-group meetings with congressional offices to discuss the issues most important to them. Between pandemic-related disruptions, climate change, low commodity prices, corporate control of the food industry, and underfunded infrastructure, there’s certainly no shortage of things to talk about. But Farmers Union members aren’t just emphasizing the challenges they’re confronting; they’re also proposing sensible legislative solutions to build a better, more equitable, and more resilient food system for everyone. More specifically, they’re advocating policies that support pandemic recovery, reduce chronic overproduction, restore competition to agricultural markets, strengthen rural healthcare, improve access to broadband internet, ensure the success of USPS, help farmers and ranchers implement climate-smart practices, and expand the market for homegrown biofuels.
Today, the event will conclude with a discussion about USPS and a virtual social gathering. Learn more about NFU’s fly-in and policy priorities here.