Farmers and ranchers welcome the administration’s announcement of $8 billion in relief through the Harvest Fuel Relief program to help farmers struggling with high diesel prices. We appreciate President Trump and Secretary Rollins recognizing that higher diesel prices have squeezed farmers’ bottom lines. By building on the Farmer Bridge Assistance program, USDA will be able to quickly deliver this relief to farm country. We look forward to working with the president and USDA to ensure specialty crop growers, livestock producers, fishermen and others get the support they need so they can continue growing the food America’s families rely on. We also value the president’s continued support for Congress passing a modernized farm bill, allowing year-round E15 and addressing agriculture’s labor needs.

We thank President Trump for recognizing that what happens at the fuel pump directly affects what happens on the farm and therefore at dinner tables across America. Allowing dyed diesel fuel to be used over-the-road will bring welcome relief for farmers because every cent per gallon matters when you're running a fleet of grain trucks or hauling cattle hundreds of miles. As we detailed in a letter to the president last week, this effort will bring much needed price relief for farmers as they work to complete harvest across the U.S. The federal highway diesel tax is currently more than 24-cents per gallon, so it’s a big deal to farmers to be able to use tax exempt diesel more broadly to get their harvest to market. We appreciate that the president listened to farmers and responded.

America’s farmers and ranchers are renewing their call to the president to reverse course on his plan to import foreign-raised beef. While we appreciate President Trump’s goal of reducing grocery costs for America’s families, increasing beef imports has not brought prices down. Farm Bureau economists tracked 41 locations since Labor Day and found that, on average, prices have fallen only 16 cents per pound. Most prices were unchanged. Families are still facing historically high prices and the threat of a 60% increase in imports over 90 days caused a sharp drop in the prices paid to ranchers for their cattle. To put it simply, the plan undercut a fragile recovery in the cattle industry while failing to benefit consumers. We urge the president to stop importing additional beef and focus on long-term solutions that support rebuilding the U.S. herd, which benefits both farmers and consumers who want home-grown beef.

We applaud members of the Senate Agriculture Committee who recognize the critical support the #farmbill provides for America’s farmers and ranchers. We appreciate Chairman Boozman’s leadership in moving this legislation forward and we urge lawmakers in the House and Senate to advance a farm bill to President Trump’s desk. It’s been almost a decade since Congress last passed a farm bill. In the past 10 years, more than 200,000 family farms have gone out of business, as farmers grappled with a pandemic, global unrest, rising expenses and falling prices paid for the food they grow. A new, modernized farm bill will help give farmers the tools they need to survive continued and unforeseen challenges ahead. More than 100 farmers and ranchers descended on Washington this week to send the message that we’re counting on Congress to work together to advance a bipartisan farm bill. A strong farm bill ensures an abundant and safe food supply. It benefits every family in America, regardless of their political affiliation.

I had the important opportunity today to speak with President Trump after the Oval Office event to let him know that the plan to increase beef imports is hurting farm families. I shared with him that we have witnessed significant price drops for cattle across the country. It has caused a setback to rebuilding the U.S. herd. We’ll continue to urge the administration to reverse the decision to increase imports before cattle prices fall further. America’s beef producers were the focus of today’s meeting at the White House. Among the topics covered under the executive orders is a call for an interagency review of mandatory country of origin labeling for beef. Farm Bureau policy supports voluntary Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) that conforms with COOL parameters and meets World Trade Organization requirements. We appreciate the president’s support for small processors by exploring new opportunities and expanded inspection access. Creating competition benefits both ranchers and consumers. The executive order also recognizes advances made in the recovery of Mexican and gray wolves in the United States. Farmers and ranchers share a commitment to healthy wildlife populations, and we support updated status reviews. The ESA is designed to help protect and recover species, and when populations recover, we should celebrate those successes and give oversight to the states for continued responsible management.

Farmers share the goal of protecting the nation’s natural resources and we’re pleased the EPA and Army Corps put forward a new Waters of the U.S. rule. It respects farmers’ ability to responsibly use their land while ensuring regulations align with the framework established by the Supreme Court’s Sackett ruling. The new WOTUS rule provides a clear understanding of federal jurisdiction, which is critical for farmers who may face severe penalties or even jail time for unknowingly violating the law. While we’re still reviewing the details of the final rule, we’re hopeful that it will prove durable and bring an end to the regulatory back and forth farmers have endured during the past decade. America’s families deserve clean water and clear rules, as do the farmers who work to grow the food those families rely on.

Renewable fuels have been a tremendous success story for the country and the rural economy. They reduce our country’s dependence on foreign oil, lower prices at the pump for consumers, support farm income, and provide good-paying jobs in rural America. While we have concerns about granting any small refinery exemptions that undercut a strong domestic biofuels market for farmers, we are pleased to see EPA’s commitment to 100% reallocation of exempted volumes before the end of October.

One of the few bright spots for U.S. agriculture right now – the cattle sector – just became dimmer because of today’s presidential proclamation. The timing of this proclamation is a gut punch to ranchers’ bottom line. The claim of ensuring these added imports do not ‘disrupt the orderly marketing of commodities in the U.S.’ falls flat when ranchers are now selling their cattle into a market in sharp decline. It’s not too late to reverse this decision, and we urge the president to consider the economic harm this causes America’s ranchers.

The President’s plan to facilitate record imports of beef will have a significant impact on farmers and ranchers who are rebuilding their herds devastated by droughts. Allowing 300,000 metric tons—equivalent to more than 660 million pounds—of foreign beef into the United States at a 25% discount “below market prices” will undermine America’s ranchers who work tirelessly to grow food for American families. We urge the President to reconsider his plan to flood the market with foreign beef.

Canada has been one of the most important trading partners for U.S. agriculture since our first free trade agreement in 1989. We are concerned that talks with our northern neighbor around a resolution to Section 338 tariffs have fallen apart in the midst of the USMCA review. We strongly urge the U.S. and Canada to return to the negotiating table and find a resolution.

Farmers and ranchers are extremely disappointed to learn that President Trump plans to flood the American market with millions of pounds of foreign raised beef. We appreciate the goal of reducing grocery costs, but short-term measures could have long-term effects.

Our grassroots advocacy makes Farm Bureau the united Voice of Agriculture. It was great seeing advocacy in action and getting a chance to visit with lawmakers and grassroots leaders at Minnesota Farmfest this week.

At a time when farmers, ranchers and rural communities are facing multiyear losses, the need for a strong, bipartisan farm bill, one that included year-round E15, has never been greater. We urge senators to return to the table, work across party lines, and advance a farm bill.

The farm bill touches almost every farm in the country. We’re grateful to Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman @JohnBoozman for releasing farm bill text and are encouraged that we can achieve a bipartisan bill that can get across the finish line.

It was great to welcome @DepSecVaden to meet with Farm Bureau leaders from across the country. We appreciated the opportunity to discuss pressing issues for farmers and ranchers. I look forward to continuing to work together to strengthen American agriculture.

Farmers and ranchers are leaders in conservation. I appreciated the opportunity to join @DucksUnlimited CEO Adam Putnam to discuss the importance of supporting working lands, protecting wildlife habitat, and ensuring farmers can continue caring for the land.

We appreciate @EPA’s rigorous review process & approval of new products to help farmers grow crops for food, fiber & renewable fuel while contributing to sustainability goals. Farmers are dedicated to caring for our land & natural resources. Tools that help do that are important.

America’s farmers are facing a labor crisis. The Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act, introduced by @CongressmanGT, delivers meaningful farm labor reform & will provide certainty & fairness to both farmers & their employees as they contribute to a strong and healthy food supply.

Farmers applaud President Trump’s executive order to suspend tariffs on phosphate fertilizers from Morocco. We’ll continue to work with the administration to find ways to improve market conditions & lower expenses for those who work to ensure Americans’ pantries are stocked.