Midwest Council meets with Congressional leadership; elects new directors at Washington DC annual meeting

The Midwest Council on Agriculture sent a delegation of farmers, agribusiness representatives and ag lenders to Washington DC in November to discuss agriculture issues with the leadership offices of House Speaker Mike Johnson, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and Majority Whip Tom Emmer.

The group also met with House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson, incoming Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman, and incoming Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar, along with the staff director for House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member David Scott.

The organization also held its 4th Annual Meeting and filled two vacant board of directors’ positions. The new board members are Brady Janzen of Riverview, LLP and Andy Martin of AgCountry Farm Credit. Perry Aasness of Compeer Financial will serve as board president and Jarred Billadeau of the North Dakota Grain Growers Association will serve as vice-president.

While in Washington DC, the group focused on communicating their concerns around the farm economy, falling commodity prices, challenges with the agriculture workforce, tax matters, and the impact of possible tariffs.

“The Midwest Council has been advocating for a strong farm bill, but we acknowledge the challenges around getting it done before the end of the year,” President Perry Aasness said. “We know that a disaster bill is critically important to producers in the south and other parts of the country experiencing natural disasters and crop loss and we support a funding package that will address those needs.”

The group also shared their support for enhanced crop insurance protection and a reduction in premium that would immediately address the needs of producers with losses and allow for farmers and lenders to move forward and plan for the next growing season.

“We also took the opportunity to share with congressional leaders our concerns about ag labor shortages and educate them about different visa programs and how they impact different sectors in agriculture,” Aasness said. “And we reminded them that with the 40A blenders tax credit expiring at the end of the year, an extension will be necessary for the biofuels industry.”

Former House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, who founded the Midwest Council on Agriculture, said the council can be helpful to bring leaders from both parties together to get them on track to get a farm bill done. “You cannot get a farm bill passed if it’s not bipartisan, and I am optimistic that we can help to get this done in 2025,” Peterson said. “I think we will end up with a bill that will work for everyone, even if it doesn’t give everyone everything they want.”