Not only do we enjoy the Farm Progress Show for the innovation that is showcased, but we also get a chance to hear from ag policymakers and talk about the issues that face the industry. There was no shortage of those conversations at the Boone site this year. U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack was there, as was House Ag Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson of Pennsylvania. The Farm Bill and the ag economy were hot topics discussed.
One of the people who was both an interested observer as well as a voice for the industry was Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig. We had a chance to chat at the end of day 2 of the Farm Progress show. First, he talked about how impressed he was with the show once again this year. He even said he might just be a little biased as to who has the best show site between Boone and Decatur, IL.
The Farm Bill was a hot topic for many reasons. The main reason is that it is already a year behind and may soon be 2 years behind. That’s two years behind replacing an almost 7-year-old piece of legislation that is built on data that is roughly a decade or more old.
Do you know of anything that hasn’t changed in the past decade? Even if we didn’t have a pandemic in that time frame?
Of course, the Ag economy is also a topic that received a lot of attention. Farmers understand there is a delicate balancing act between grain availability and grain prices. The trouble is that the market likes to count the bushels before they get in the bin, and farmers do not have the luxury of doing that. At least not if they want to be economically responsible with their operation.
Naig wrapped up talking about why the agricultural industry needs to have these types of events. Not only to show what is coming but also to get producers on the same page when it comes to communicating with our consumers.
The Farm Progress Show will return to Decatur, IL in 2025.
Listen to the whole conversation below.
