NFU: More Needs To Be Done This Holiday Season To Help Farmers

According to National Farmers Union’s most recent “The Farmer’s Share”, for every dollar Americans spend on their Thanksgiving dinner this year, farmers and ranchers will earn approximately 11.9 cents. That marks a slight year-over-year decline, when farmers made roughly 12.15 cents of the Thanksgiving food dollar.

Rob Larew, President of the NFU, said between those low prices and the pandemic, it’s a challenging time for America’s farmers. He noted Thanksgiving is typically a time to gather with loved ones and enjoy a big meal.

“But for many Americans, the typical, food-filled get-together won’t be possible, and not just because of public health concerns. With millions out of work and no additional government support in sight, the cost of traditional holiday foods may simply be out of reach for some families.”

Larew said it’s not just farm country struggling. He says over the past 12 months, the food prices have risen nearly 4%, far outpacing the 1.4% rate of overall inflation. Larew added as COVID-19 case counts continue to rise across the country and safety measures are put in place, it’s clear the United States has a long ways to go with economic recovery.

“In the meantime, it is a moral imperative that we ensure every single American has access to the food they need. By far the most cost-effective and efficient way legislators can achieve that is by expanding SNAP benefits.”

Click Here to check out the NFU’s Thanksgiving edition of “The Farmer’s Share”.

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