ANAHEIM — “We got business to do today,” said American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall. “This is what we come here for, and I call the meeting to order.”
With that, 333 voting delegates from across the country officially began voting on dozens of amendments and additions to the organization’s member-driven, grassroots policies.
“Michigan Farm Bureau members had great success in the policy development process this year, and it culminated today in Anaheim, California,” said Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) President Ben LaCross, who led the state’s 12 voting delegates at the 107th American Farm Bureau Convention.
“The grassroots process of Farm Bureau is so special because Michigan farmers are so engaged in the policy process and Michigan Farm Bureau has a reputation of being a policy powerhouse.”
Labor
AFBF delegates approved a resolution submitted by Michigan and other states supporting the methodology of the new U.S. Department of Labor rule for determining the H-2A guest worker program’s minimum wage, known as the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR).
Years of advocacy from MFB, its members and H-2A employers across the country helped push the H-2A program closer to modernization last year, as USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service discontinued the Farm Labor Survey (FLS), which was used to calculate the AEWR.
Because of that cancelation, the resolution also removed references to the FLS and altered language that supported freezing AEWR at 2023 levels. Delegates also approved a policy supporting longer terms of employment for H-2A guest workers.
The new policies aim to improve labor programs to meet the needs of America’s farmers, including formalizing support for the new AEWR methodology, and further revisions to avoid unpredictable rate swings in the future.
LaCross said the policy that was passed by AFBF delegates reflect the work that MFB members have done to reform the Adverse Effect Wage Rate calculation, and many of the changes the Trump Administration has implemented in the past six months.
“It also pushes the Trump Administration to continue to make the H-2A program and all ag workforce programs farmer friendly, especially to Michigan farmers,” he added.
Trade and tariffs
Tariffs are significantly impacting the ag economy, and AFBF delegates passed a Michigan-driven resolution calling for more analysis on the impact and opportunities related to tariffs and provide valuable guidance for next year’s policy development discussions.
“So many members and so many counties submitted policies about trade and tariffs,” LaCross said.
Those policy submissions culminated in action directing the AFBF Board and the Trade Advisory Committee to analyze the impacts tariffs and trade have on farmers.
“That resolution was passed resoundingly, and I really look forward to the AFBF Board and the Trade Advisory Committee digging into that issue and showing us how we can best create policy recommendations for trade and tariffs going forward,” LaCross added.
Following the annual meeting, AFBF President Duvall appointed LaCross to serve on the AFBF Trade Advisory Committee, ensuring that Michigan’s voice will be represented at the national level.
Specialty crops
Following Tuesday’s votes, AFBF policy now includes supporting heirloom and heritage seeds being considered specialty crops. Michigan’s delegation weighed in on the proposal, following a storied history of representing specialty crop growers in national policy discussions.
Delegates worked to ensure the definition of specialty crops maintained its integrity, avoiding an overly broad interpretation, while still recognizing the value of including heirloom and heritage seed through thoughtful debate on the delegate floor.
“We have unique challenges in the specialty crop industry, and our members know firsthand the things that we need from our federal government and through federal policy for our specialty crop farmers to be successful,” LaCross said.
“When Michigan speaks about specialty crop issues on the national level, the whole country listens, and we got great things done for our farmers.”
Regenerative ag
“There's been a lot of talk in the last couple of years about regenerative agriculture, what it means, how farmers can implement some of the practices of regenerative agriculture, and how we can work within the framework of that,” LaCross noted.
Delegates approved policy language defining regenerative agriculture “as any production system that increases profitability, minimizes negative environmental impacts, maximizes production, promotes stewardship and increases the productivity of soil over time.”
Additionally, delegates approved policy calling for regenerative agriculture practices to remain voluntary initiatives, rather than mandatory programs.
“We crafted policy that focuses on things that matter to our farmers; profitability, soil health, conservation programs — things that our Michigan farmers have been doing for many, many years, and we built that into the regenerative ag policy points,” LaCross added.
Other key policies
AFBF delegates approved a language that was submitted by Michigan that funds be available for recruitment and training for new and additional USDA meat inspectors as well as requiring farmers be paid from farm bill conservation practices within 30 days of approval of the practice’s completion or interest will accrue with unpaid funds.
AFBF delegates also voted to support federal funding for research and biosecurity facilities to better identify and combat illnesses and pests that threaten the health of crops and animals.
New policy includes committing more resources specifically to eradicate the New World Screwworm, and keeping the U.S.-Mexico border closed to cattle trade until the screwworm is controlled.
National farm policy was also revised to provide more protection for dairy farmers who may suffer losses due to market challenges, and delegates formalized support for prioritizing locally grown fruits, vegetables, bread, and proteins in institutional purchases such as schools and government facilities.
