Ag Leaders: We Look Forward To Working With President Trump

The American Farm Bureau Federation and other major farm groups spent much of Wednesday congratulating President-elect Trump, vowing to work with him and Congressional leaders to advance top Ag priorities, including a new Farm Bill.  AFB President Zippy Duvall says it’s now time to “put politics aside” and finish a new five-year farm bill.

“We’ve been pushing hard to get a farm bill done," Duvall said.  "Our farmers need it. We kicked the can down the road too long. And, if you look back over the last five years of this farm bill, we lost 141,000. So, we know that we need a new, modernized farm bill.”

Expected new Ag Chair in the next GOP-led Senate John Boozman said the panel will provide producers the policies and support “they desperately need to remain viable.”  Duvall also expects President-elect Trump to help prevent impending tax hikes next year before his 2017 cuts expire, placing another crushing cost burden on farmers.

On the flip side, Duvall said he is concerned about Trump’s vow to impose stiff import tariffs that sparked trade wars during his first term in office.

“When tariffs are put on other countries, a lot of times, agriculture communities carry the brunt of the retaliation of what comes with those tariffs. It will restrict the markets and lower prices, and that’s bad for farmers and ranchers.”

Other organizations congratulating Trump for his win over Kamala Harris this week include the National Farmers Union, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the Public Lands Council and others.

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