Washington, D.C. - During the District Work Period, Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (MN-07) met with her Southern and Northern Agriculture Advisory Groups. These groups are made up of producers from across Minnesota's 7th District. The meetings primarily discussed the ongoing workforce issues, trade opportunities, and the importance of crop insurance.
“This month marked a new year and a new Congress, but it also marked the start of ‘crunch time’ for getting a Farm Bill done.” Congresswoman Fischbach said, “With less than nine months left before the current Farm Bill expires, it is critically important we jumpstart the process of receiving farmer input to ensure the next authorization is as farmer-friendly as possible. I was glad to convene my Agriculture Advisory Committees this week to receive the feedback on what works, what doesn’t, and where improvements can be made in the current farm bill.”
Producers discussed the importance of export markets for farmers, the need for the Foreign Market Development Program and Market Access Program, and the role of the Ways and Means Committee in urging the Biden Administration to pursue new market opportunities.
In addition, solutions to a prevailing workforce challenge in agriculture was discussed, including the Congresswoman’s H-2A Reform Act. Changes to existing workforce programs that increase reliability, transparency and cost effectiveness are sorely needed to ensure American Agriculture is competitive on the world stage.
Finally, producers urged the protection of critical risk management tools including crop insurance, Dairy Margin Coverage, and a reliable disaster recovery program in the upcoming farm bill.
