Kansas Farmers Union Members Share Farm Bill Priorities With Congress, Trump Admin.

Kansas Farmers Union members (left to right) Nick Levendofsky, Sheila Kjellberg, Donna Pearson McClish, and Tom Giessel recently visited Capitol Hill to lift up priorities for the next Farm Bill.

Kansas Farmers Union (KFU) members joined more than 100 farmers from across the country to the halls of Congress and spurred local action from hundreds of family farmers and ranchers in their home states during the week of May 5-9.

Farmers Union members’ message was clear: farmers across the country are facing a perfect storm of volatile markets, rising input costs, shrinking federal support and mounting trade tensions — all with no new farm bill in sight. Those participating from KFU included Tom Giessel, Larned; Sheila Kjellberg, Salina; Donna Pearson McClish, Wichita; and Nick Levendofsky, Courtland.

“We are so deeply indebted to over 100 farm families who have taken time from what is the busiest time of year for many farmers and ranchers to travel here, deliver the news themselves and tell their stories about why action is so necessary right now,” said NFU President Rob Larew.

Monday May 5, members of the group met with USDA representatives. Later that morning, Tom Giessel and Nick Levendofsky joined a small group that met with Department of Justice Antitrust Division officials. They shared various concerns including strengthening enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act, requiring mandatory country of origin labeling for beef, promoting diversified marketing opportunities, and guaranteeing farmers the ‘Right to Repair’ our own farm equipment.

“The strength of Farmers Union comes from the collective spirit of and efforts of farmers and ranchers from across the nation,” said Giessel. “Our diversity is our strength - our voice rings clear as a bell. Our visits with USDA, the Department of Justice, and our congressional delegation and Senators checked all the boxes in sharing our message regarding the current situation in rural America, and gave focus to the need to pass a new and improved farm bill, NOW.”

On Tuesday, May 6, NFU hosted a press conference with Representative Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) at the House Triangle to spotlight five farmers who shared their personal stories on how the lack of a farm bill has caused stress and uncertainty during the crucial planting season.

“The week of action was a very productive and timely event,” said Donna Pearson McClish. “It was interesting to see how some pre-conceived ideals may have been changed by our simple conversations between those who make policy and those whose lives are impacted by those policies. Hopefully the visit from farmers across the country allowed the Senators and Representatives to see the perspective from those of us who have ‘boots on the ground.’”

KFU members met personally with U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, Representatives Sharice Davids, Tracey Mann, and Derek Schmidt and their respective staff. All other meetings were held with legislative staff. Farmers Union members advocated for easing the burden on farmers by passing a strong, united and comprehensive five-year farm bill that strengthens the farm safety net, builds upon voluntary conservation programs, fosters fairness and opportunity in the marketplace, delivers fast and reliable risk management programs, and garners broad support from both farmers and consumers.

To learn more, please visit https://nfu.org/forfarmerssake/