ANAHEIM — As the music fades and the lights come up on the massive backlit stage, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall steps in front of thousands of farmers and ranchers from across the country.
They’re here to talk politics, vote on policy, take their talents to highest levels in Young Farmer & Rancher competitions, see the latest ag innovations, and network with their counterparts from across the country.
As the 107th American Farm Bureau Convention’s theme states, they’re here to “imagine, grow, lead.”
Duvall, a third-generation farmer from Georgia, laid out the road ahead for the Farm Bureau’s legislative advocacy during his opening address at the convention, being held in Anaheim, California.
“We have faced some tough times across agriculture this year, and there’s no sugarcoating that,” Duvall said.
“It’s real and I know it has been difficult for many of you. But every farmer has a seed of optimism that we plant as we look to the future. We make it from one season to the next because optimism is part of our DNA.”
Duvall highlighted changes to the H-2A program’s Adverse Effect Wage Rate, which Michigan Farm Bureau and its members were heavily involved in advocating for — noting that every time he meets with leaders and lawmakers, he reminds them that the biggest crisis farms face is a lack of labor.
“We achieved changes to the H-2A wage rate. This brought much-needed relief to many farmers who were facing skyrocketing wage mandates,” Duvall noted.
“But we still have our eyes on the goal — agricultural labor reform that works on all types and all sizes of farms in every state.”
Pushing for a new farm bill
While Congress keeps kicking the can down the road on a new farm bill, Duvall said Farm Bureau has kept the pressure on lawmakers and holding them accountable to ensure farmers have the support they need to stay afloat.
He also pointed to Farm Bureau’s advocacy for long-overdue changes to risk management programs — which Congress delivered on through a “historic investment of nearly $70 billion investment” as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to modernize the farm bill.
“But we still need a new farm bill, and we will keep holding Congress accountable to deliver that and other critical support for agriculture” Duvall added, also mentioning a continued effort to get Congress to allow year-round sales of E15 fuel.
Bridge Assistance Program next steps
“With the toughest farm economy we’ve seen in a generation, we know our leaders need to hear from us about what relief is needed in the short- and long-term,” Duvall said.
He cited the letters from Farm Bureau to President Donald J. Trump and members of Congress outlining those needs, including a short-term bridge payment, which was announced soon after as the $12 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program.
As Michigan Farm News has reported, up to $11 billion will be used for the FBA Program, which provides broad relief for row crop growers, with the remaining $1 billion set aside specialty crops as part of a program that’s still being developed.
Duvall said the Bridge assistance is “definitely needed” in farm country, but said the losses are much deeper than that.
“More support is still needed to cover the tens of billions lost over the last couple years,” he added. “We also know that one billion for specialty crops isn’t enough. We will continue to work with Congress to bring the relief you need.”
Going to work on MAHA
Duvall said the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement presents an opportunity and a mandate to engage with the Trump administration, lawmakers and consumers.
“We all want to see healthier outcomes for our families and communities, but we need leaders to make decisions that are grounded in science,” he said. “At Farm Bureau, it’s our responsibility to explain what farmers are doing every day to grow a safe, healthy food supply.”
Duvall said Farm Bureau “went into overdrive” to tell the story of how farmers across the country are producing safe food while caring for the land.
“Every conversation, every engagement, bridges the gap — from stories on social media to meetings at your statehouse, and even the White House,” said Duvall, adding that it’s critical for consumers and lawmakers to hear straight from farmers.
Last year, Farm Bureau brought farmer-members to the White House to share their stories about what modern farming looks like.
“And we were told it was one of the most impactful in a long line of meetings on MAHA,” Duvall added. “Because of our approach, we saw a real shift between the first MAHA Commission report and the second.”
State Farm Bureau presidents and national committee chairs were also invited to the nation’s capital to engage with cabinet members — marking the first time the entire Farm Bureau leadership group has been invited to the White House.
“I was very frank with President Trump about the challenges we are facing,” Duvall said. “I made it clear that Farm Bureau policy supports trade, not tariffs. I shared that farmers are ready to reach more markets with American-grown products.
“No two ways about it — Farm Bureau is a leader in our nation’s capital.”
That leadership also extended to advocating for the renewal of critical tax provisions last year, according to Duvall.
“Without these provisions, farm families could have seen an increase of 9 to 20% on their tax bills,” he said, adding agriculture experienced a “big win with the estate tax that exempts most farm families. This will help us pass our farms on to the next generation.”
‘A healthy farm starts with a healthy you’
As Duvall noted, Farm Bureau has been a leader in bringing resources to farmers and rural communities, including mental health resources.
“Through Farm State of Mind, we are now leading an alliance across agriculture to ensure every farmer can get the help he or she needs, and it is working and saving lives,” Duvall said.
“Remember, it’s okay not to be okay, but it’s not okay to not talk about it.”