Sharing solutions to ag issues at annual legislative conference
Aug 10, 2023
NEW ORLEANS, LA – USA Rice attended the Farm Bureau Southern Region Legislative Conference hosted by the Louisiana Farm Bureau here this week. The annual conference brings together 13 states and agricultural groups to discuss current issues facing the agriculture sector and reports on legislative activities from each state, and how they can continue to advocate and advance policies to benefit producers across all sectors of agriculture on the local and national level.
With presentations covering topics such as Foreign Land Ownership, Right to Repair, Labor and Pesticides, Renewable Fuels, and Prop 12 updates, the conference offered the chance for an open discussion on how these topics and many others are being addressed to help producers continue doing what they do best, feeding American families and the rest of the world.
“The Louisiana Farm Bureau put together a great conference, making the most of our time together,” said USA Rice Senior Director of Government Affairs Jamison Cruce who was in attendance. “Rice was well represented, as many of the states attending have rice acres, and we were impressed by the presentation of Bill Jones with Anheuser-Busch in Jonesboro, Arkansas, emphasizing their commitment to U.S. agriculture.”
Also on the program was an update on progress towards the next farm bill reauthorization with a nod to the current bill's expiration on September 30. Cruce and National Cotton Council Vice President of Producer Affairs Tas Smith provided attendees with an overview of their organizations' priorities and discussed the political and logistical hurdles Congress faces as it works to bring a new farm bill to fruition.
"This conference is one that we all look forward to," said Andy Brown, director of commodity, public policy, and national affairs with the Louisiana Farm Bureau. "While each state is different, the issues we face are similar. Getting together gives us a chance to share information that the agriculture industry is dealing with in each state, and openly discuss the various options that our colleagues are working on to help strengthen the producer's ability to remain successful, and prepare for any obstacles looming on the horizon. There is no better way to solve these issues than working together, and USA Rice is always a big partner with us Farm Bureau folks working in the south.”