Much like the weather, the political climate can change at the drop of a hat and impact ag retailers and their farmer-customers almost immediately. The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) team has been especially busy in the past few weeks assisting ARA members through its DC Help Desk. From answering clarifying questions about treated seed to advocating for relief on fertilizer and food supply chain struggles, ARA has been leveraging its relationships on Capitol Hill, at regulatory agencies and in the White House to find answers and seek support—all so that its members can focus on being in the fields and getting this season’s planting underway.
In February, the ARA policy committee met. Through communication with the board of directors, the committee recommeded public policy priorities on which the association should focus for the year. These are the selected policy priorities for this year:
- Transportation and Supply Chain Solutions
- Ag Labor and Workforce Needs
- Climate Change and Sustainable Agriculture
- Energy
- Modern Agricultural Technologies
- Economic Growth & Trade
- Farm Bill
ARA positions related to this year’s policy priorities include support for legislation that increases competition in the rail and ocean shipping industries, offers agricultural employers more flexibility for the essential drivers and workers that they hire and provides incentives to help farmers prioritize and scale climate-smart practices. It is critical for the federal government to make decisions based on sound science, peer-reviewed data and a risk-based approach that provides farmers access to critical crop inputs, including pesticides, fertilizers, seed and precision agricultural technologies.
When it comes to carbon markets, ARA has prioritized defining the interests of retailers and farmers and providing them with education and tools needed to facilitate adoption of practices with a baseline for success. ARA launched a new climate stewardship and carbon credits working group in 2021 to ensure ARA members are part of this effort every step of the way.
As the next farm bill approaches, ARA will work to preserve the crop insurance program; work with USDA’s Risk Management Agency to modify prevented planting dates to lessen the potential impact on farmers; and ensure that ag retailers are in the best position to provide their farmer-customers with crop consulting services along with custom pesticide and fertilizer application services, which are vital to our nation’s food security.
To further bolster ARA’s impact in Washington and reinforce its policy priorities, ARA members conducted close to 100 meetings with congressional offices during a five-week period in March and April. This grassroots effort is the best way for the ag retail industry to ensure its voice is heard. As issues gain traction on Capitol Hill and more in-person meetings are possible, ARA may have more opportunities for its members to meet with members of Congress and their staff. Please contact the ARA policy team if you would like to participate in future meetings or hold meetings while your member of Congress is back home in your district. For ARA members who do host policymakers at their facilities, ARA also has a guide on how to effectively host a facility visit.
Although a lot of ARA’s work focuses on influencing policymakers, ensuring that the consumer understands our industry is also important. As a part of the ARA Professional Development Pathway, ARA hosts ENGAGE for Ag Leaders, the industry-critical program focused on communicating with people outside of the ag industry. The program empowers participants with the knowledge and communication skills to effectively connect with consumers and other food system stakeholders. With the program’s three-step process, participating leaders will be able to package their knowledge and value proposition in a way that engages the consuming population as communities are joining the conversation about how their agricultural products are produced. This year’s event will be held Aug. 22-24 in St. Louis, Missouri. ARA members receive a significant discount for this program. Registration will open soon. Visit www.aradc.org/engage for more information.
