NFU outlines urgent priorities for fair markets, farm safety nets, and sustainability in a letter to the incoming administration.
The National Farmers Union (NFU), representing over 230,000 family farmers and ranchers across the United States, has issued a letter to President-elect Donald Trump, outlining critical agricultural policy priorities for his upcoming administration.
Dated November 14, 2024, the letter emphasizes the urgent challenges facing rural America and the agricultural sector, urging the new administration to implement policies that ensure fair markets, strengthen the farm safety net, and promote sustainability.
In the letter, NFU President Rob Larew congratulates President-elect Trump on his election victory and underscores the pivotal moment for agriculture and rural communities.
“Family farmers and ranchers face challenges that demand urgent attention and continued support. Our next president has an opportunity to lead with policies that secure fair markets, strengthen the farm safety net and ensure a sustainable future for American agriculture.”
The NFU’s correspondence highlights several key areas requiring immediate attention:
Strengthening the Farm Safety Net: With projections indicating a challenging year ahead for family farmers, the NFU calls for robust support to address volatility in crop prices and input costs.
Larew emphasizes that the existing safety net, established in the 2018 Farm Bill, is insufficient to help farmers withstand rapidly declining crop prices, high interest rates, and natural disasters.
Ensuring Competitive Markets: The NFU advocates for the enforcement of antitrust laws and greater transparency to combat the economic challenges posed by market concentration in the agricultural sector.
Larew asserts, “For too long, unchecked mergers in the agriculture industry and throughout our nation’s economy have come at the expense of family farmers. We need a food system that is competitive and resilient, not one that is brittle and dominated by only a few multinational corporations.”
Trade Policies: The organization urges the administration to adopt a measured and cooperative approach when negotiating trade policies, cautioning that drastic measures could jeopardize the financial health of family farmers.
Larew notes that previous trade disputes, such as those with China, resulted in significant losses for members and a loss of valuable market share, particularly for soybeans, to competitors like Brazil.
Beyond these primary concerns, the NFU’s letter addresses additional priorities, including support for a simplified tax code that treats family farmers fairly, right-to-repair legislation, access to high-quality healthcare, and a stable agricultural workforce.
The organization emphasizes the necessity of policies that secure fair markets, strengthen the farm safety net, and ensure a sustainable future for American agriculture.
The NFU’s proactive engagement with the incoming administration reflects the organization’s commitment to advocating for family farmers and ranchers. By outlining these priorities, the NFU aims to collaborate with President-elect Trump’s team to address pressing issues and build a future where family farms and their communities can thrive.
As the transition to the new administration progresses, the agricultural community anticipates how these outlined priorities will influence policy decisions and impact the future of farming and rural America.
The NFU’s letter serves as a foundational step in fostering dialogue and cooperation between the agricultural sector and the incoming administration, aiming to ensure that the needs and challenges of family farmers are addressed in the policy-making process.
