Agricultural Labor / Immigration Reform

2025 ARA Fly-In Meeting with Chairman GT Thompson

ARA Members Set 2025 Public Policy Priorities

Mar 10, 2025

ARA membership has confirmed the 2025 public policy priorities that will steer the association's advocacy efforts with federal legislators and regulators on behalf of agricultural retailers.

Ag Labor & OSHA

The agricultural community is dependent on a sustainable workforce now more than ever.

2024 Election Results: What's Next for Ag Retail?

Nov 06, 2024

What is next for ag retailers now that Donald Trump is the President-elect and Republicans have taken Senate control? Richard Gupton and Hunter Carpenter of the ARA public policy team share top takeaways for the agricultural retail industry.

Fly-In Builds Unstoppable Momentum for Ag Industry

Feb 16, 2023

With the Farm Bill up for reauthorization this year, the more than 130 meetings between ARA member representatives and their elected officials and staff on both sides of the aisle of the 118th U.S. Congress will be critical to successful grassroots advocacy efforts at the federal level. Key issues that impact ag retail were discussed.

Update on ARA Virtual Fly-In Visits with Congress

Apr 08, 2022

ARA members participate in grassroots engagement efforts during the annual legislative fly-in. Held virtually this year, the visits are a chance for ag retailers and suppliers to sound their voice about issues impacting their operations and community among elected officials and their staff in Congress.

Helpful Links on COVID-19

Sep 14, 2021

Information, guidance and resources to be used to help agricultural retailers and distributors continue operations amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

ARA Submits Comments on Behalf of Ag Retailers

Jun 22, 2021

ARA recently submitted comments in response to the request for information on Supply Chains for the Production of Agricultural Commodities and Food Products (docket number AMS-TM-21-0034). This comment period was in direct response to Executive Order 14017, “America's Supply Chains,” which focused on the need for resilient, diverse, and secure supply chains to ensure U.S. economic prosperity and national security.

Top Regulatory & Policy Issues for Ag Retailers to Watch (The Scoop Podcast)

Feb 24, 2021

ARA's Richard Gupton joins The Scoop Podcast, ARA's official magazine and podcast partner, to discuss the top regulatory and policy issues for ag retailers to watch. He also explains how ag retailers can get engaged.

Photo of U.S. Capitol with trees at the bottom of the photo

New Year, New Administration, New Priorities For Ag Retail (The Scoop)

Feb 15, 2021

The beginning of a new year brings the opportunity for ARA members to refocus the member-led organization’s policy priorities for the coming year. ARA’s Washington-based policy team has been working for months with the Biden administration transition team and staffers on Capitol Hill to bring them up to speed on the issues. As determined by the membership, ARA’s policy priorities for 2021 include the following.

ARA Successfully Lobbied for an Exception for Certain H-2 South African Workers

Jan 29, 2021

ARA successfully lobbied Congress and the Biden administration on a national interest exemption for certain H-2 travelers from South Africa along with other national and state ag groups.