The American Farm Bureau Federation celebrated the 100th Convention in New Orleans over the weekend.  AFBF President Zippy Duvall used the weekend to highlight the successes of 2018 and the plans for 2019.  Duvall told those in attendance farmers and ranchers faced struggles in 2018, much like they did when AFBF was founded.

 

“During that time, farmers were struggling. They were grasping with trying to find a way to make a living with transportation problems and trade problems. And all the farmers across America, they started uniting and we got to 1919, and they looked at what they were accomplishing in their communities and they said we’ve got to do this on the national level. And they created what we know as American Farm Bureau because they needed one united voice.”

 

Despite the challenges farmers face today, Duvall said 2018 also brought great policy change for the future.

 

“Tax reform, trade, farm bill, regulatory reform. It is going to go down in history as a great year as far as farm policy. You know who made it happen? It was you. It was the emails, the phone calls, it was the trips to Washington, it was going to a town hall meeting and seeing great people like Pat Roberts. You’re responsible for these wins, you are the power and strength of this organization.”

 

When taking a look at the year ahead, Duvall said the AFBF will focus on farm labor, immigration reform, regulatory reform, trade, infrastructure and broadband.

 

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