051 | Farm Bill & Prop 12 with President Duvall of American Farm Bureau
Our newest episode, Farm Bill & Prop 12 with President Duvall of American Farm Bureau, is now available on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Today, we are excited to interview President Zippy Duvall of the American Farm Bureau as we discuss the Farm Bill and California’s Prop 12 and what it means to hog farmers across the country. We've discussed California’s Prop 12 before but now we are discussing it a bit more in-depth with an amazing guest! In today’s episode of Farm Bill & Prop 12 with President Duvall of the American Farm Bureau, we cover several important topics including:
Discussing the facts about Prop 12 and how it could affect farmers across the nation
How President Duvall feels about the upcoming Farm Bill
What American Farm Bureau is working on
The important role that American Farm Bureau plays for farmers
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Discussing the Farm Bill & Prop 12 with President Duvall of the American Farm Bureau
Buckle up for today’s episode as we dive into the details of Prop 12 and the Farm Bill with President Duvall of the American Farm Bureau. The basis of the bill essentially states that hogs that are imported into California to be processed must follow California’s rules as to how the hogs are raised and grown. There are several problems with this bill but a couple of them include that there are very few hog farmers actually in California, so the majority of this bill would affect hog farmers outside of California. Additionally, many farmers and agriculturists feel that it isn’t fair to present this bill to voters that have no education about raising hogs.
California’s Prop 12
While we did cover this topic in episode 46, today we are diving a bit deeper into the nuances of the bill and what it could do for farmers everywhere. President Duvall makes the point that while this bill might not affect large farms, it could potentially wipe out small farmers because they won’t be able to accommodate the changes needed to fulfill the Prop 12 requirements. Additionally, it’s interesting that California eats up to 13% of the US consumption of pork, but almost 100% of that is grown in other states!
The Farm Bill
While this isn’t President Duvall’s first time working through the Farm Bill, it is different this time around with everything that’s been going on around the world. For example, he is excited about the fact that people are finally realizing the fragility of the food system at large and how our decisions as consumers and voters affect that food system. Additionally, he mentioned that because we have elections in November that we will have several new politicians that have never worked through a farm bill and that could prove a tedious task all on its own.
What Does the Future Hold for Agriculture?
At the end of the day, the conversation comes down to educating the consumer on what needs to be done to continue feeding their families. At this point, the discussion turns to technology in agriculture meaning that consumers don’t fully understand that farmers are implementing the best tools in order to get food on consumers’ plates. Additionally, another large discussion is the finances that back agriculture. Natalie and Tara touched on this topic in episode 36 where they discuss the lack of funding in agriculture today. In order to meet the requirements that consumers are demanding, there needs to be more research completed in order to meet that demand.
What is American Farm Bureau Up to Right Now?
American Farm Bureau is working on expanding broadband deployment to rural areas across the nation. It is just one of the many items that the American Farm Bureau is working on to get farmers on the same playing field.
“Broadband access is essential for farmers and ranchers to follow commodity markets, communicate with customers, and access new markets around the world. ”
In addition, they are looking to change the discussion around the potential SEC ruling that would “create several substantial costs and liabilities, such as reporting obligations, technical challenges, significant financial and operational disruption and the risk of financially crippling legal liabilities. " for farmers across the country. In fact, President Duvall mentioned in this episode that he got a meeting with Tom Vilsack, the Secretary of Agriculture, and let him know how concerned he was about this ruling. American Farm Bureau was able to get a seat at the table to talk about this ruling and bring to light several of the issues that American farmers could face should this ruling be put into place.
About American Farm Bureau
“The American Farm Bureau Federation is the Voice of Agriculture®. We are farm and ranch families working together to build a sustainable future of safe and abundant food, fiber and renewable fuel for our nation and the world.”
About President Duvall
President Duvall is a third-generation farmer who spent decades dairying on his family farm in Georgia. He now raises beef cattle and broiler chickens and grows his own hay, all while continuing to restore the land his father and grandfather farmed before. Since 2016, he has also served as the president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, working on behalf of America’s farmers and ranchers as their voice in Washington, D.C. As the largest general farm organization in the country, the American Farm Bureau is the Voice of Agriculture. Our 6 million member families are the grassroots of our great organization and are honored they have chosen him to advocate on their behalf.
About Elevate Ag the Podcast
Where can I find tools and strategies to confidently and effectively share my story online? How do I monetize my brand? Where can I find community among women in agriculture and business? Can I cultivate my passion while also making money?
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