Article

“Luck is when preparation meets opportunity” is a saying that seemed especially relevant Dec. 8 when a group of eight farmers from across the country participated in a roundtable discussion with President Trump, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and other key national leaders in the Cabinet Room and in the Oval Office at the White House. Ohio Farm Bureau Treasurer Adele Flynn (pictured far left) participated in the meeting, representing Ohio farmers.

The meeting was part of the announcement of the $12 billion aid package to provide financial relief and an economic bridge for America’s farmers and ranchers. While the bridge payments are an important economic lifeline for the agriculture economy, it’s not the only story from that meeting.

Another important element of the two-hour meeting with the president that may be easily overlooked was the critical discussion on many long-term solutions to stabilize the farm economy, such as:

• The importance of year-round E15 (unlimited 88 at the gas pump);
• Clarity on the Waters of the U.S. rule;
• Regulatory reform for businesses; and
• Protecting interstate commerce.

We are thankful for the administration promising to quickly address these issues and more, however many other policy priorities remain, including:

• Fair and enforceable trade agreements;
• Policy advancement on biofuels;
• Restoration of whole milk in schools;
• Investigating prices for major agricultural supplies;
• Enforcing laws and regulations that protect competition, fairness and transparency; and
• Prioritizing American-grown fruits and vegetables in federal and institutional purchasing programs.

The fact that a group of farmers had the ear of the president of the United States and the secretary of agriculture for two hours is valuable and appreciated. Meetings like this don’t happen every day. When the president’s team requested an Ohio farmer to participate in this meeting, Ohio Farm Bureau was prepared for the opportunity.

Bill Patterson is Ohio Farm Bureau president.