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Former ag leaders increase calls for Congressional action on farm economic crisis

A bipartisan group of more than 40 former farm leaders, commodity group executives and USDA officials are ramping up their calls for Congressional hearings into the ongoing farm economic crisis.      

Jon Doggett, past CEO of the National Corn Growers Association, says the group has sent two letters this year to House and Senate Ag Committee leaders with little response.

“Saying, here are nine things we’d like you to address. Have some field hearings. Please pay attention to what’s going on.”  He says, “You need to talk to farmers. We are not hearing that you’re talking to farmers.”

Pam Johnson, retired Iowa farmer and past NCGA president, says what was an already tight economic cycle has become even more challenging over the past year.

“Prices of diesel, prices of fertilizer, but not just prices, also concerns about availability.”  She says, “The war in Iran has made so much uncertainty for us as farmers.”

Bob Dineen, past president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, says Congress has failed to provide any meaningful solutions.

“When gasoline prices are still over $4 and ethanol is just $1.95, and they can’t figure out a way to provide consumers some relief by allowing E15 to be sold year-round across the country, that’s just inexcusable,” he says.

To bring more awareness to the realities of the farm economy, the group has launched RestoreAmericanAg.org as a platform where farmers and ranchers can document their experiences to later be presented to Congress and the administration.