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Farm groups want follow through from Trump

Farm groups say President Trump’s State of the Union is a reminder there’s more work to be done in Congress.

The American Farm Bureau Federation is applauding the priories outlined in the President’s speech including a call for the passage of the USMCA.  Executive Vice President Dale Moore tells Brownfield it was reassuring to hear the President mention agriculture.

“It may seem small to some folks but hearing him mention agriculture, farmers and the farm bill—all of that tells the men and women that I work for that the President is paying attention.”       

Moore says he’s optimistic the lasting impact of the government shutdown will encourage Congress and the administration to work together before the upcoming budget deadline.  Moore says moving the farm bill forward, reforming the nation’s immigration system and updating infrastructure will remain priorities in the year ahead.

Rob Larew with the National Farmers Union says the State of the Union failed to recognize the harsh realities on family farms and ranches that the farm economy has only trended lower the last two years.

“We really think the President missed an opportunity to at least acknowledge that times are really tough out there and we need to be doing much more in order to get things on better footing.”      

He says they want to see the administration be successful on the trade front but in the interim farmers need a stronger safety net.  Larew says if there isn’t a bipartisan support to keep the government open, it will only exasperate issues in farm county.

AUDIO: Brownfield interview with Dale Moore

AUDIO: Brownfield interview with Rob Larew