ARA Member Testimony for House Ag Committee Hearing
Jul 25 2024
Joey Caldwell, senior vice president at GreenPoint Ag, delivered testimony on behalf of the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) before the House Agriculture Committee for a hearing on "Financial Conditions in Farm Country" held July 23.
Caldwell introduces himself as a board member of ARA and the son of a proud west Tennessee farmer. Caldwell emphasizes how uncertainty continues to hinder progress in the farm economy, impacting his agricultural retail industry and rural communities across the nation.
The Burdens Hindering Ag Retailers
"Implementing supportive agricultural policies that provide financial assistance, subsidies, and crop insurance to farmers can help stabilize farm incomes and reduce uncertainty," says Caldwell.
Other than uncertainty, Caldwell speaks about ag retailer burdens and suggested solutions for how these burdens can be lightened:
- Financing options along with varying interest rates and terms allow ag retailers to offer a level of customer service with tailored finance plans for customers buying fertilizer, crop protection, seed and technology.
- Ag retailers and Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) need to be consulted when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) develops pesticide mitigation measures to lessen the regulatory whiplash felt in our industry over two decades that complicated rules, product availability and last-minute label changes for ag retailers and their farmer customers making crucial stock and usage decisions.
- Increased energy costs have raised the overall price of feeding and fueling the nation; therefore, prioritizing an all-of-the-above energy approach will help lower natural gas prices that are hiking nitrogen fertilizer costs while reducing diesel prices that are increasing transportation and packaging costs.
- Extending tax provisions established under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will ensure agricultural cooperatives can utilize similar tax deductions as corporations that benefited from the corporate tax rate reduction because that has helped farmer cooperatives and their member-owners invest in operations despite business threats such as a global pandemic, geopolitical conflict, record inflation and supply chain constraints.
- Support agricultural labor solutions such as H-2A visa workers, automation and technology to help fill the 2.5 million workers needed to meet farm production needs because labor shortages, unpredictable immigration policies, and fluctuating wage rates lead to workforce shortages and disruptions in the food supply chain.
Caldwell commended the committee for their commitment to move the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 earlier this summer before concluding his testimony with a plea to the House and Senate to pass a Farm Bill before the end of the year.
"The time to act is now."
How You Can Take Action
Without traveling to Washington, you can send a message to your lawmakers urging them to pass the Farm Bill today!
“The tools ARA provides make it quick and easy for the GreenPoint Ag leadership and team members to make an impact,” said Toni Tyler, senior marketing manager at GreenPoint Ag.
“A few clicks and a few seconds of their time sent a very targeted message to the U.S. Senators that represents them. Our team members are industry advocates and have a commitment to the core value of helping our customers succeed. They want to provide their support."
ARA's online grassroots advocacy tool allows you to add a few personalized sentences about why a Farm Bill is important to you to a pre-written message before sending it off to your Senators and Representative.
To send a message to your Senators calling on them to reauthorize a Farm Bill this year, click below.
To send a message to your Representative calling on them to reauthorize a Farm Bill this year, click below.