North Dakota farmer weighs in as Farm Bill debate kicks off
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A congressional committee kicks off debate Feb. 23 on a sprawling federal policy covering many facets of farming and North Dakota producers are tuned in to hear the latest Farm Bill developments.
House Republicans this month unveiled a draft of the bill which funds and updates rules for different ag programs over a five-year period.
Shelly Ziesch, a farmer and rancher from Kidder County, welcomed the idea of a longer-term Farm Bill after several short-term extensions and key support tucked into other laws. She hopes for additional moves to strengthen the farm safety net, noting independent producers work tirelessly to reach customers.
Ziesch stressed if disaster strikes or prices drastically tumble, they need backup assistance.
"We put our entire investment in our property and our business out on the line every year," Ziesch pointed out.
Ziesch hopes for stronger language for "country of origin labeling," which would require meat companies to specify where their products come from, saying it creates more market fairness.
This week's action in Congress kicks off what's known as markup, where marathon sessions are held to add to or delete from the Farm Bill. Leading Democrats have criticized the initial draft, and partisan divides are expected over certain proposals.
Ziesch noted major elements of a separate tax-and-spending bill, pushed through by congressional Republicans last summer, help farmers but do not go far enough. And just this month, the Trump White House announced a move to bolster beef imports from Argentina. Ziesch added her operation does not need such market challenges because right now, her livestock production is making up for crop losses.
"We need stability in our markets, on both the crop side and the livestock side," Ziesch contended.
Ziesch is on the board of directors for the North Dakota Farmers Union, which also responded late last week to the U.S. Supreme Court striking down the Trump administration's sweeping tariff policy. The union said trade disputes in the past year have created major headwinds for family farmers and ranchers, and the decision should restore some market stability. President Donald Trump criticized the outcome, pledging other tariff moves.
