MFB directors advocate in DC on farm bill, labor and taxes

The future of Farm Bill programs. 

Ongoing workforce challenges and unsustainable wage increases. 

Key tax provisions set to expire. 

These are some of the pressing challenges facing Michigan’s farm families — complex, often interconnected issues that require Congressional attention and action.

To help ensure agriculture’s voice is heard, several members of the Michigan Farm Bureau Board of Directors traveled to Washington, D.C., June 10-11 for the 2025 American Farm Bureau Federation Advocacy Conference.

MFB Board Directors Paul Pridgeon (At-Large), Alysa Sanford (Promotion & Education), Riley Brazo (Young Farmer), and Patrick McGuire (District 11) made the most of their whirlwind 36-hour visit to the nation’s capital. Their schedule included time with USDA leaders, AFBF staff, and Congressional offices including Reps. Jack Bergman, Bill Huizenga, Kristen McDonald-Rivet, John Moolenaar, and Tim Walberg, as well as Sen. Elissa Slotkin. 

“Our Farm Bureau leaders did an excellent job reiterating our policy priorities with Michigan’s Congressional delegation this week,” said Matt Smego, MFB Public Policy and Commodity Division Director, who led the group alongside MFB’s newly hired Associate National Legislative Counsel, Jacob Smith.

“With so much in flux in D.C. — and conversations happening simultaneously in the White House, Congress, and across federal agencies — it’s more important than ever for Farm Bureau members to stay engaged,” Smego added.

Workforce challenges in focus

Among the group’s priorities was agricultural workforce reform. Members highlighted the growing burden of the escalating Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR), urging Congress to pause, fix, or replace it to make wage determinations more predictable and sustainable. 

The group also advocated for expanding the H-2A program to include year-round jobs by eliminating its outdated seasonality restriction and called for cost-sharing measures to help farms offset the increasing expenses associated with the program.

Farm bill stability in uncertain times

A second major focus was farm bill reauthorization — which is still in limbo after a series of delays and extensions. MFB reiterated the importance of protecting crop insurance, bolstering conservation programs and improving risk management tools that help farms weather uncertainty.

“We've talked a lot about the farm bill and how we're still working on revisions of the 2018 farm bill, and we're coming down to the end of another revision, at the end of September of this year,” said Riley Brazo, chair of the MFB State Young Farmer Committee. 

“We’ve asked for insight on the thought process, on where we're going to end with a renewed farm bill that we desperately need at this point, and we really stressed that we need stability in a very unstable market when it comes to commodity prices, crop insurance, and programs that are affected in the farm world.”

Tax reform that reflects agriculture’s realities

The group also emphasized the need for tax reforms that recognize the unique financial structure and long-term nature of farm businesses. As Congress considers potential changes to the tax code, MFB is advocating for policies that offer stability and support multigenerational farm ownership.

Priorities include preserving unlimited stepped-up basis for farm businesses, permanent elimination of estate taxes, and reducing the capital gains tax rate. Farm Bureau also supports indexing assets for inflation and excluding capital gains at death — particularly for agricultural land that remains in production. This includes land transferred between family members, land preserved through easements or development rights, and land taken through eminent domain.

Grassroots engagement matters

MFB State Promotion and Education Committee Chair Alysa Sanford encouraged county Farm Bureaus to continue the conversation back home.

“I think it's absolutely essential for farmers to have opportunities like this to talk to your elected officials,” Sanford said. “They're here in D.C. and in Lansing — representing us — and it's important that we share our stories and our concerns with them, the things that affect our daily life, and how we produce food.”

With Congress preparing for a short Independence Day recess followed by a longer August district work period, Smego urged members to engage locally.

“I encourage you to reach out to your county Farm Bureau if you’re interested in participating in local legislative events coordinated by public policy committees,” he said.