News

Farm Bureau looks ahead after election

A farmer organization says it will be working closely with the newly-elected members of Congress.  Cody Lyon is the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Managing Director of Advocacy and Political Affairs. He tells Brownfield, “The question for us is going to be how much education do we need to have with new Members of Congress who do not have a solid background or understanding of agriculture or agricultural policy, things that we’re going to push for over the next two years.”

Lyon tells Brownfield the close elections, the slim House majority for Republicans, and the undetermined balance of power in the U.S. Senate will mean reaching out to new and veteran members on ag issues. “It just leads, in my view, to a lot more need for compromise, for working closely with the leadership of both parties in both chambers and making sure that the Farm Bureau perspective is well heard and understood.”

Lyon says he will be paying close attention to how many members will want to be on the agriculture committees and make sure those members understand Farm Bureau’s position on the issues.  He says the next farm bill, energy and diesel prices, and labor remain high priorities for the next Congress.