Ag Tour Day - Bringing In The Harvest

I love fall in Iowa. The leaves are alive with color; the air is crisp; college football fills our Saturday's. But my favorite part about fall is seeing the landscape change as our hardworking farmers bring in the harvest. Their work not only feeds our state, but also our country and the world. The pulse of our economy is agriculture. The heart is our farmers. That's why each fall gives Iowans the opportunity to take special time to appreciate farmers and this remarkable process. It makes me proud to be an Iowan.

And yet farming in our country sometimes suffers stress. Earnings for farmers are expected to drop 36 percent this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. I don't need to tell those in the industry this, but falling corn and soybean prices coupled with higher land prices, seeds and other inputs have fueled this drop. Falling farm income is a problem. But we are a resilient people.

In addition to challenges, farmers tell me at times they feel they're under attack by their own government.

They are bombarded by federal regulations that hinder conservation and production efforts. From the Environmental Protection Agency's Waters of the U.S. rule to the proposed limit to the Renewable Fuel Standard levels -- uncertainty is hindering the strength of our farmers and the agricultural industry.

And now, with the recent Washington budget deal throwing certainty aside which cuts crop insurance by changing the Farm Bill, our farmers are left to foot the bill for Washington's inability to hold the line on spending. I voted against this budget agreement because it exceeds responsible spending levels and tries to pay for it by cutting crop insurance. Because of this shortsightedness, I introduced legislation to restore the crop insurance cut and broken promise.

Rural America needs its voice to be heard and its priorities to be represented in Congress. My commitment is to you, to be accessible and responsive to your concerns. That's why since I was sworn into office in January I've visited each county, of the 16 counties in the 3rd District, at least once every month. That's a minimum of 192 county visits a year. I value this communication and connection, because in a representative republic, we must have a two-way-conversation. It helps me better advocate for you and your neighbors on the issues that matter the most to us.

In keeping with this consistent communication, I set off on a "Bringing in the Harvest" agricultural tour on Friday, October 30. I will be visiting grain elevators across four counties: Dallas, Madison, Polk and Warren.

The goal of this "listening tour" is to learn directly from producers about this year's harvest, the challenges they have faced and their outlook for the next year. I am visiting these elevators and facilities to listen to Iowa's experts on agriculture -- our farmers. And, I look forward to continuing that conversation throughout the year, so please do not hesitate to reach out -- www.davidyoung.house.gov/contact. Your input matters to me.

Source