Photo submitted by Drew Lyon. A group of farm leaders from the MSGA and ASA including Vesta’s George Goblish (back left), and Lake Benton’s Bob Worth, visited Capitol Hill last week to meet with senators about farm policies.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A group of farm leaders from the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) and American Soybean Association’s (ASA) took a trip to Capitol Hill last week to discuss farm-related policy priorities.

Among the leaders was Lake Benton farmer Bob Worth, ASA director and MSGA past president, and Vesta farmer George Goblish, another ASA director. Both noted the trip was successful with productive conversation, and a heavy topic was the need for a new Farm Bill.

“We had numerous things we wanted to talk about, but the main thing was the Farm Bill. We need the farm bill done now,” Worth said. “A lot of the stuff can’t be put in place until the bill is all done, so we really did push for that.”

The most recent Minnesota Farm Bill was put in order in 2018, which has gone through a few extensions since, with the current extension set to expire on Sept. 30 of this year.

“We spent a lot of time talking about the farm economy, how it’s deteriorating at a very high rate. Things are getting very tough out in rural America for agriculture, especially for our younger farmers, or beginning farmers, that are just new in the game for farming,” Worth said. “It’s going to be very difficult for them for the next couple three years. That’s why we need this Farm Bill done, so we have a target price, we have certainty, and so we know where we are for next year, and the lenders know where they are.”

“Beginning farmers are really stressed right now … We really need to get these trade deals done,” Goblish added. “I know there’s a lot of farmers who are waiting on selling their grain until they see some trade deals, because they’re hoping markets will go up.”

According to the Minnesota Soybean Growers in a news release, Congress passed a budget reconciliation in early July which supplies farmers with more protection and more support for the biodiesel industry.

In the recent signing of President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill was the passing of numerous farm-related policy priorities, according to the MSGA.

“With the Big Beautiful Bill … They did raise the target price … They raise that for corn, soybeans and all the commodities, which is good,” Worth said. “They also improved crop insurance. They help that, so you can get a higher coverage on your crop and they’ll also pay a little more subsidy on the higher numbers … The reason why we want crop insurance (is) because if you have a crop failure this year … You get paid this year or the first part of next year.”

“There are a lot of things in there (the bill) that are going to help farmers, and they addressed a lot of our issues that we’ve had,” Goblish added. “But, not all. We’re still worried about the small refiners exemptions. That’s one thing that we hope still gets addressed.”

The president’s bill also made funding increases for Foreign Market Development (FMD) and Market Access Program (MAP).

“That was actually doubled,” Worth said. “We have not had an increase in funding for this for over 20 years … That’s going to help us get more markets in foreign countries, and we need that.”

Although with the new policies passed in the bill, the farm leaders met with House and Senate leaders to continue conversation surrounding other work that needs to be done to further protect farmers and make improvements with the agricultural economy.

The ASA group makes annual summer visits out to Capitol Hill.

“I’ve done this for quite a few years, since 2004, is when I started going to D.C. with Minnesota Soybean Growers and the American Soybean (Association),” Worth said.

This was Goblish’s final trip with ASA to the Capitol, as he plans to retire in December.

“I wanted to make sure I got to see the senators one last time, because they’re always good about seeing us when we come out,” Goblish said. “Over 15 years ago (is when) I started going out there, but I spent 11 years on ASA … I will miss this. I am moving on to the council side of things.”

Along with the discussions surrounding the Farm Bill, other farm-related topics included trade, the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) Commission report, biofuels and access to crop reports.

“We always have good, productive conversations with Minnesota representatives, because we know them so well and we work with them a lot,” Worth said. “We do have a good relationship with them, and that’s a big thing.”