Farm Bureau President Testifies Before Senate Agriculture Committee on Critical Issues Facing Farmers

May 03, 2023

The President of the American Farm Bureau, Zippy Duvall, testified before the Senate Agriculture Committee on the current state of agriculture in the United States. In his prepared remarks, Duvall highlighted the challenges facing farmers and ranchers across the country, including labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, and regulatory pressures.

Duvall emphasized the importance of ensuring that the agricultural sector remains competitive in the global marketplace, and called for increased investment in agricultural research and development to drive innovation and growth. He also stressed the need for greater support for rural communities, including improvements in infrastructure and access to high-speed internet.

In addition to discussing the challenges facing agriculture, Duvall also highlighted the opportunities for growth and expansion in the sector. He cited the increasing demand for American-grown food products around the world, and called for greater investment in the marketing and promotion of US agricultural products.

Duvall's testimony underscored the importance of agriculture to the US economy and the need for continued investment and support for the sector. With the right policies and programs in place, he argued, US farmers and ranchers can continue to thrive and contribute to the nation's economic growth and prosperity.

The Senate Agriculture Committee expressed appreciation for Duvall's insights and pledged to work closely with the American Farm Bureau and other stakeholders to address the challenges facing agriculture and ensure the continued success of the sector.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.