By: Farms.com
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) marked its 105th Convention by setting significant policies for 2024, touching on diverse areas like artificial intelligence (AI), labor, and crop insurance. The policies, voted on by farmer and rancher delegates, are aimed at addressing both current and future challenges in agriculture.
The focus was on the integration of AI in farming. The delegates voted for policies that ensure AI's potential is maximized while respecting privacy rights. This move is seen as a step towards more technologically advanced and resource-efficient farming practices.
The convention also highlighted the labor challenges in agriculture. Amendments were made to stabilize guest worker wage rates and revise worker programs, notably H-2A and H-2B, to better meet farm needs. These changes aim to alleviate the labor shortage impacting many American farms.
Crop insurance and farm bill matters were also key topics. The delegates supported increasing reference prices in the farm bill and expanding crop insurance coverage, ensuring more commodities are protected.
Foreign investment and its impact on agriculture were another area of concern. New policies support enhanced data collection on foreign land ownership and a review of foreign investments in U.S. agribusiness by the Committee on Foreign Investment.
The poultry sector saw calls for changes in the contract pay system and demands for more transparency from chicken companies. This is aimed at ensuring economic sustainability for poultry farmers.
In the realm of international trade, there was a push for Congress to investigate fertilizer supply chain issues and tariffs on imports, reflecting the global interconnectedness of agriculture.
The convention concluded with the re-election of AFBF President Zippy Duvall and Vice President Scott VanderWal, and the election of board members and committee leaders, setting the stage for an engaged and dynamic year ahead in the agriculture sector.