Groundwork Farm Policy Facts

Rep. Finstad represents Minnesota’s First Congressional District and currently serves on the House Agriculture Committee. He’s also a fourth-generation farmer raising seven kids, the upcoming fifth-generation, with his wife Jackie. The Congressman joined us on the Groundwork podcast to discuss the happenings of the 118th Congress, the odds of a Farm Bill in 2024, and more key topics impacting producers across the United States. 

Most of us take our abundant supply of food for granted. We’d say we’re lucky – but it’s not luck. It’s thanks to the hard work of America’s farming families and smart farm policies supported by Congress.
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.

This holiday season, America’s farmers and ranchers are at the top of our nice list for growing and raising the crops and livestock that keep us all fed. The family farmers who grow sugarbeets and sugarcane – and the workers who transform these plants into the sugar in our holiday desserts – are an essential part of this food supply chain.

Last summer, corn had a golden moment when seven-year-old Tariq was interviewed about his love for corn in a video that permeated pop culture. That same year, nearly 90 million acres of corn were planted across the United States, providing a valuable food source and driving economic growth in rural communities.
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.

Did you know the average age of an American farmer is almost 58 years old?
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. 

It’s budget season on Capitol Hill, and when it comes to the federal budget, there is no better investment than farm policy.
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.