KFB Studios crew goes on the road to the nation's capital.

With nearly 300 Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB) members in the audience, the KFB Studios crew took the “Farm to Frankfort” policy broadcast on the road to the annual KFB Congressional Tour.

Each year, KFB members travel to the nation's capital to hear from agriculture leaders and the state's Congressional delegation to get updates on ag policy and current events at the national level.

KFB President Eddie Melton said this annual event is critical in many ways for members and their rural communities.

“Our farm families face challenges every day on and off the farm so, getting the opportunity to discuss their issues with our Congressional delegation is an important step in having their voices heard,” he said. “This trip allows them an opportunity to ask questions and let these legislative leaders know the issues that affect them and the industry that supports us all.”

In keeping with KFB’s commitment to keep members informed, KFB Studios has presented “Farm to Frankfort” in both video and podcast formats for the past year featuring an array of guests discussing ag-related issues with Melton and Kyle Kelly, KFB Federation Director of the Public Affairs Division.

During the broadcast recorded in Washington, Ericka King, KFB Federation Director of National Affairs and Government Relations joined Melton and Kelly on stage to present questions to American Farm Bureau Federation’s Ryan Yates, Managing Director, Government Affairs, and John Walt Boatright, Director, Government Affairs.

King also presented questions to John Newton, Ph.D., the Executive Head of Terrain, a team of industry-leading ag economists and analysts.

What the experts have to say (excerpts from the KFB broadcasts)

Ryan Yates on the power of Farm Bureau:

"Farm Bureau – we have a big voice, not only at the county level, or the state capital level, but certainly in Washington. And when Farm Bureau shows up, talks to legislators, and talks to our executive branch, they listen, they want to know. They care about the issues that are affecting farm and ranch families across the country."

“I can't underscore enough how effective this organization is because we show up each and every day. You guys show up, you do the work, you're advocating at home, you're advocating in this town. And with that strong voice that we have, we really can move mountains. There's no shortage of problems in this town that need to be overcome, but I'm very confident in the work because of the grassroots network that we have because of you all, we're able to be successful in this town.”

"Every issue that we bring before Congress, and we bring before the administration, it started at a family farm, it started at a county farm bureau and we're able to really bring the truth to Washington and they listen. We need to be diligent in the work that we do to bring that message to Congress. And certainly, there is no shortage of issues that you all are facing that we need Congress to step up and deliver. It's an exciting time."

John Walt Boatright on labor issues

“Our latest count showed that there were about eight or nine new regulations totaling thousands of pages that were affecting agricultural employers or specifically H-2A employers. One of those finalized in March of 2023 was a disaggregation rule, which meant that for the adverse effect wage rate that H-2A employers have to pay if those workers tried to perform certain job duties, they are drawn from a completely different data set, and likely charged a much higher wage rate than even the adverse effect wage rate. So that's been a rule that we've been fighting in recent years."

“1986 was the last time we had legislative reform in this space, and we argue regularly that it is long overdue to have a modernized system that meets the needs of 2025 agriculture, not 1986 agriculture. So, several recurring pieces of legislation have been re-upped in recent years. One is called the Dignity Act, which is a much more comprehensive approach to the immigration space, but one that we're closely monitoring, and addresses agriculture specifically. In late 2022, we saw an attempt to incorporate the Farm Workforce Modernization Act in a funding bill that will also be reintroduced in this next Congress we anticipate.”

“Something that we are hearing increasingly about over the past several months is the concern around border security efforts and interior enforcement provisions. And I'll say from the outset, that we have sought to be very active in the border security conversation. American Farm Bureau has strong policy in support of securing the Southern border, in large part due to the fact that so many of our farmers along the border states have had to really face some difficult situations in terms of migrants crossing the border, endangering other farm workers, endangering families, compromising food safety standards for their operations. That's why we've leaned into the conversation about encouraging a stronger border policy.”

John Newton on the economy and trade

“Really you have a tale of two farm economies. If it walks off the farm, cattle prices have been at record highs, and milk margins over feed costs have been volatile, but they've hit record highs this past year. But on the crop side, net cash farm income for corn and soybean producers, the lowest level that we've seen in 15 years. And while farm income is projected to be higher in 2025, it's on the back of historic levels of ad hoc support. And I talk to farmers across the country, they'd rather get their returns from the market and not the government.”

“Production expenses have gone up $107 billion since we did the last farm bill. And every single input category is higher today than what it was when we did the last farm bill… every single input category is more expensive, but prices are falling.”

“When exports were record high in 2022, what did the farm economy do? The farm economy was doing pretty well. So, telling the story about why these export markets are so important, and members of Congress, they understand. They know this. There's trade promotion authority that folks often say that Congress needs to provide for folks to go out and negotiate these new agreements. But again, I think it all comes down to getting outside your fence rows and talking about why trade is important for your business.”

Meetings with Kentucky’s Congressional Delegation

While hearing from ag experts via the “Farm to Frankfort” live tapings was something new to Congressional Tour attendees, hearing from the state’s federal lawmakers is at the heart of this annual event.

Melton said while it’s important to hear what Kentucky’s Congressional delegation has to say, it’s equally important to let them know the concerns of KFB members.

“In all the years our organization has been coming to advocate in Washington, the one thing that serves our membership best is building relationships with our lawmakers, helping them to understand the challenges we face on the farm,” he said. “We are fortunate to have Congressional members from our state who understand the issues of our agriculture industry and rural communities. And one reason for that is because of the strong advocacy efforts our members make during this trip and throughout the year.”

One of the most important days of the tour is when legislators from most of Kentucky’s Congressional districts address the gathering and meet with their constituents. Later that same day, members traveled to the Russell Senate Office Building for a question-and-answer session with Senator Mitch McConnell and Senator Rand Paul in the historic Kennedy Caucus Room.

A standing room only crowd heard from each senator who received a KFB policy book and a list of KFB priorities.

“Our thanks go out to our Congressional delegation for all they do for our farm families and for taking time out of their schedules to spend so much time with our members,” Melton said.