The current Farm Bill is set to expire for the second time on September 30th, 2024, and with no new news coming out of Washington DC, it may be a while before we get a new Farm Bill passed. The many factors contributing to the delay (party line shenanigans, childish behavior by both political parties, and a lack of motivation to get a new Bill signed before the election) are causing a greater impact on the U.S. agriculture economy than most outside of agriculture circles want to admit.
A Farm Bill protects America’s food security, promotes job creation, advances environmental sustainability, and is supposed to protect the family farmer and rancher from the many risks associated with farming and ranching. With agriculture being a key contributor to the U.S. economy, there is no better investment from the federal budget than smart farm policy.
The farm economy is failing and falling deeper into a place where a lot of family farmers and ranchers will not be able to survive and return to the incredible way of life that is farming and ranching. There are many circumstances that have arisen since the last Farm Bill was signed that are leading to the failed ag economy: interest rates are at their highest point in a few decades, record declines in net farm income, the ag trade deficit is at record levels and forecasted to be 32 billion next year, supply chains haven’t returned to pre-COVID standards, and farm inputs have remained at high levels even with declines in commodity prices.
A new Farm Bill is needed sooner than later to address these problems, along with addressing climate change, an inadequate farm safety net, land access, corporate control, and many other issues. America’s farm and ranch families and all those that work in agriculture need a new strong Farm Bill now!
In my opinion, the current and past Farm Bills have focused on trying to address revenue support for farmers. These policies have resulted in overproduction of commodities, causing below cost of production prices for commodities and higher costs to the federal government. We need to promote a Farm Bill that supports a supply management program that addresses the problems of cheap prices and costs, and supports net farm income by providing price supports for major crops. Any supply management program would take into account the cause of low prices (supply that exceeds demand) by taking a marginal amount of supply off the market so that crop prices rise to a profitable level, and if necessary, inducing farmers to reduce their production through paid acreage reduction programs through conservation programs. With crop prices well below the cost of production and the ag trade deficit at all-time highs for the foreseeable future, the same old revenue programs will be too expensive and still provide inadequate support to farmers.
Any and all future Farm Bills need to take into consideration and value the environment by fully funding and expanding authorized conservation programs that include paying early adapters of climate-smart conservation practices. They should also value the less fortunate by fully funding and expanding food and nutrition programs. In addition, Farm Bills must address corporate greed and the monopolization of the agriculture sector, such as the consolidation of agriculture manufacturers, seed companies, chemical and fertilizer companies, and crop insurance companies. The growing agriculture trade deficit needs to be immediately addressed to open new markets and revisit old markets, including free and fair trade, to reduce our agriculture trade deficit.
There are many other important factors and needs that a Farm Bill must have to help protect the family farmers and ranchers of this great nation, but there are too many to list here. Please call your representatives and senators and urge them to get together and pass a new robust Farm Bill that will help ensure the survival of the American family farmer and rancher.
David Schertz
Life-long Texas farmer and rancher and current Texas Farmers Union Vice-President
8:30 am - Executive Board of Directors
9:30 am - Charitable Board of Directors
10:30 am - Marketing Board of Directors
[WASHINGTON September 2024] -- National Farmers Union just completed their Annual Fly-In in Washington DC. The purpose of the visit was to educate our representatives on what is going on in the countryside. Those attending were David Schertz of Krum, TX (cattle and grain farmer), Billy and Shorty Miller of Crawford, TX (owners of Mill-King Dairy), Clayton Tucker of Lampasas, TX (a goat and cattle producer), and President Mike Oldham and his wife Pam Oldham of Smithville.
We had a national board meeting on September 7, 2024 at the national offices, with time being spent on future leadership for Farmers Union, the oldest farm organization in the nation, still made up of farmers from the fields, ranchers, and land owners.
Fly-In Opening and USDA Briefing: 8:00 am – 11:45 am
U.S. Department of Agriculture South Building 1400 Independence Avenue SW
Participants lined up at 7:00 am at the Wing 5 Entrance of the USDA South Building with Fly-In name tags and photo IDs for the security screening. The session began at 8 am in the Jefferson Auditorium. Welcome and introductions from NFU were followed by remarks from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. Presentations were made by USDA leaders, including:
1:15 pm – 4:00 pm
325 Russell Senate Office Building - Kennedy Caucus Room
Participants entered the Russell Senate Office Building. All Fly-In participants were welcome to attend this event. Leaders from key federal agencies and the Senate Agriculture Committee provided policy updates about Fly-In priorities. Speakers included:
Tuesday and Wednesday were spent on Capitol Hill visiting representatives from our home state, talking about low prices, dry weather, and the expiring farm bill (September 30). The new bill should strengthen the safety net for farmers, boost permanent disaster assistance, expand crop insurance options, allow dual enrollment for ARC and PLC, and stem the loss of family dairy farms. Other topics discussed included:
The Farmers Union also supports temporarily freezing the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) while pursuing broader H-2A and agriculture workforce reforms.
We covered many issues while focusing on the main one: we need a new Farm Bill to protect our farmers so we continue to have a cheap supply of food and fiber in abundance from our family farmers.
House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson (R-PA) shared a 38-page long document that details about his forthcoming draft farm bill legislation:
The chairman also issued an open letter to farm bill stakeholders, in which he outlined his approach towards penning the legislation. He pointed out that he's willing to receive additional feedback and concluded his letter by saying "while the Chairman’s mark is near finalized, my door remains open." You can see the letter here:
The National Farmers Union just completed our 122nd National Convention in Scottsdale AZ. Delegates, Board Members, Guests’ Representatives, 234,000 members from across country: Farmers, Cattleman, Fishers, & Organics.
Texas group: David Schertz wheat, corn, cattle producer from Krum, Texas. Along with Bert Pruett is also cattle producer from North Texas, Alton Cook farmer from Lamesa, Texas. New member Clayton Tucker from Lampasas sheep and goat farmer. Also attending President Mike Oldham of Smithville came from Shamrock, Texas formerly cotton, wheat, peanut, and cattle producer.
The NFU Convention started with a banquet on March 10th where we received a message from the White House. The National Farmers Union distributed all Service Awards. The White House welcomes the input of NFU members, & input on 24 Farm Bill. NFU always asks for what is needed not necessarily what can be passed by Congress, we usually meet somewhere in middle. The union has grown by about 30,000 over the last year. We remain strong and the oldest farm organization in the US.
On Monday morning March 11", President Rob Larew gave some membership and leadership awards & gaveled into session. Convention addressed by Sarah E. Suggs of the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute of American Democracy. This group works with high school age youth from across America, learning in camps how democracy works, really teaching government or civics which aren’t mandatory in our school anymore. We as NFU want young citizens to be taught what it means to be a part of this great democracy.
Secretary of Ag Tom Vilsack made a few remarks, then we were made aware of the huge impact of no new farm bill and importance of one, along with the funding from Congress to Administer it. Followed by about 2 and a half hours of questions and answers. The secretary also took out time for some “one on one” meetings with our members. His caring attitude and relationship with the Farmers Union always a plus for Agriculture. Our NFU staff and members constantly lobby on behalf of all involved in Agriculture to get the right bill passed. The rest of the day was spent in breakout sessions. Food Safety, & Right to Farm laws. New opportunities in the low carbon world, managing stress, protecting land owner’s rights and Right to Repair Legislation.
Rob Larew of West Virginia, & Jeff Kippley of South Dakota were reelected as President and Vice President on March 11th. We heard remarks from Rod Snyder Senior Advisor of Agriculture at EPA, Doug McKalip Chief Negotiation for U.S. Trade, also Sarah Hunt National Association of Farm Broadcasters.
After a short lunch the delegates quickly returned for Policy Adoption, when members from across Agriculture decided what our policy will be in 2024. Not to say some points of view needed debate. After a day and half our policy makes room for, all farmers, stockman, and fishers. We believe in a strong crop insurance program, disaster program, & we must constantly strive for higher prices and safety net.
We ended the convention with the passage of Policy & Special Orders of Business. Farm Safety Net, Family Farming and Conservation. Fairness to Farmers, Diary Policy Reform.
We will gather again in March 2025 for the Convention in Oklahoma City.
USDA recently announced a long awaited new “Product of USA” labeling rule. USDA stated that starting in 2026 animal products would need to be born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the U.S. to use the “Product of USA” or “Made in the USA” labeling.
Texas Farmers Union (TFU) supports this new labeling rule and sees it as a step in the right direction, but still asks for, Mandatory Country of Origin (MCOOL) on all food products.
The new labeling rule addresses a loophole used by multinational meatpacking corporations that has allowed cattle born and raised in Mexico and Canada but slaughtered and packaged in the U.S. to be labeled “Made in the USA”, which undermines the U.S. beef market and cuts into U.S. ranchers paychecks.
TFU believes in fair trade with our trading partners but feels that the U.S. farmers, ranchers and consumers should be the top priority when it comes to rulemaking and not what is in the best interest of multinational corporations or other countries.
Thanks,
Texas Farmers Union
Texas Farmers Union (TFU) supports the Congressional Review Act recently passed by the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support that would reinstate a long standing ban on beef imports from Paraguay that was lifted in November 2023.
TFU applauds the Senate for their recognition that this ban being lifted was a problem for cattle producers and consumers in the U.S. and now asks the House of Representatives to quickly take up the measure and pass it.
The ban on beef imports from Paraguay will benefit U.S. cattle producers consumers by protecting the safety of their food supply and also placing a value on supporting American farmers and ranchers when they go to the supermarket
Thanks,
Texas Farmers Union
USDA has been trying to implement mandatory electronic identification (EID) for over a decade behind the push from multi-national meat packing corporations and the rouse of food safety and traceability. They have failed to accomplish this from a push back from the American farmer and rancher every time that subject was brought up.
USDA is again trying to force their plan for all cattle producers to use EID ear tags on all adult cattle shipped across state lines. They have submitted a final rule for review by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This is a step closer to accomplishing their goal.
Texas Farmers Union (TFU) has always fought for farmers and ranchers to keep their right to a more profitable path in agriculture. TFU believes that the new rule would cause burdensome regulations and extra costs to the farmers and ranchers. The extra costs to farmers and ranchers from the tags themselves to the other infrastructure costs that more than likely will passed on to the farmer and rancher.
TFU believes that the Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) rule that exist today covers the requirements needed to trace cattle movement. The rule requires all dairy cattle and adult beef cattle that cross state lines have some form of identification either in the form of electronic or low tech forms of ID. The new proposed rule would make EID the only form of ID allowed for cattle crossing state lines.
TFU and farmers and ranchers need your help by calling your Congressman/woman and Senators and tell them to stop USDA’s EID mandate. Call the Capital Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for them by name.
Thanks for your help and consideration.
Texas Farmers Union
