Many ag groups are trying to educate legislators on the most pressing issues facing the industry

A new Congress means fresh faces, but newcomers might not be as well-versed in agriculture as others. One horticulture group says it is a good opportunity to advocate for agriculture.

“That’s always a challenge, both with what we call ‘freshmen,’ or the new members within Congress, as well as, frankly, a lot of the veterans [legislators],” said Kate Tynan, Senior Vice President at the Northwest Horticultural Council. “And you have new staff who are coming in, and that can be an opportunity, as much as it is a challenge, to make sure folks are up to speed.”

Tynan says the biggest issue they are trying to drive home is the growing ag trade deficit, which is set to hit more than $45 billion this year.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Lewie Pugh, with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, joined us on Monday’s Market Day Report with his insights on the incident and a deeper dive into the issues at hand.
As the Trump Administration seeks out new global trade partnerships, Congress is considering more support for farmers, which comes as the Federal Reserve warns that farmers need a safety net.
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins will travel to Europe and Asia to seek new trade partnerships for U.S. crops after China reduced imports due to tariffs.
The $221 million will help farmers and ranchers cover losses from Hurricane Helene that USDA programs didn’t cover. They’ll focus on infrastructure, markets, timber, and future economic losses.