Groundwork

<p>Most of us take our abundant supply of food for granted. We’d say we’re lucky – but it’s not luck. It’s thanks to the hard work of America’s farming families and smart farm policies supported by Congress. </p> <p>A...

<p>This holiday season, America’s farmers and ranchers are at the top of our nice list for growing and raising the crops and livestock that keep us all fed. The family farmers who grow sugarbeets and sugarcane – and the...

<p>Last summer, corn had a golden moment when seven-year-old Tariq was interviewed about his love for corn in a video that permeated pop culture. That same year, nearly 90 million acres of corn were planted across the...

<p>Did you know the average age of an American farmer is almost 58 years old?</p> <p>It’s a startling statistic, considering the vital role of farmers in our daily lives. With a growing global population and a dwindling...

<p>It’s budget season on Capitol Hill, and when it comes to the federal budget, there is no better investment than farm policy.</p> <p>That’s because only a fraction of a percent of federal spending is directed towards...

<p>Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, knows there's a sense of urgency to pass a Farm Bill before the current legislation expires on October 1.</p> <p>“Rural America needs it,”...

<p>It’s a rallying cry pushed by special-interest groups and farm policy critics: dismantle the U.S. food system! But a fundamental misunderstanding of how our food is grown leads to bad ideas and even worse policy. Ray...

<p>As Thanksgiving approaches, food prices might be a topic of conversation around your dinner table. Dr. Rob Johansson, Director of Economics and Policy Analysis at the American Sugar Alliance (ASA) and the former...

<p>When you look at farms across the American southwest, you’re struck by the incredible diversity of agriculture. Rice, poultry, timber, peanuts, pecans, cotton, corn and “all the vegetables you can imagine” help fuel...

<p>With a Farm Bill on the horizon, Congress is already hearing from policy wonks, think tank experts, and DC insiders about what they think legislation should say. But the most important voice in this conversation is...

<p>When August Pfluger decided to join the Air Force, he drew upon a deeply ingrained desire to put service before self. Now, as the congressman representing Texas’ 11th district, Pfluger recognizes that same motivation...

<p>Jocelyn Schlichting is a fourth-generation farmer who recently joined Farm Policy Facts on our Groundwork podcast to talk about the future of agriculture. Jocelyn returned to the farm five years ago after working as...

<p>In America, approximately 220,000 farming and ranching families raise 80 percent of the crops and livestock that feed and clothe our nation. All 330 million of us.</p> <p>“That is a very big task for a very small...

<p>Benjamin Franklin once famously said, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. So, we invited Paul Neiffer, Principal at CliftonLarsonAllen and author of the blog Farm CPA Today, to join us on the...

<p>When we think of farming, the food on our plates and clothes on our backs likely comes to mind. But what about the fuel in our cars?</p> <p>Ethanol is a low-carbon, high-performance biofuel made from American-grown...