I grew up on my family farm in Springfield, Kentucky. My family has been involved in the Kentucky agriculture industry for six generations.
Growing up, most families in my community were involved in the agriculture industry. Farming is a way of life, and I can’t imagine my life without it. A wise coworker helped me get involved in agriculture policy one day when I was complaining about a policy I did not agree with.
My colleague said, “It got that way because someone wanted it that way. If you want something different, you must be involved in the decision-making process.” That sentiment has always stuck with me and led me to become involved with the Kentucky Small Grain Growers Association and National Association of Wheat Growers.
Recently, I joined fellow wheat growers and other commodity organizations in the nation’s capital in a united effort to get a bipartisan, long-term farm bill passed this year that makes a meaningful investment in the farm safety net. Crop insurance plays a vital role in helping overcome disasters Mother Nature might throw our way, and the commodity title is intended to help when there are economic challenges outside a producer’s control.
A farm bill does more than help producers through hard times. The farm bill is one of the most impactful pieces of legislation when it comes to making sure wheat farmers can take advantage of voluntary conservation practices and are at the helm of cutting-edge research.
Conservation is a big part of farming practices in Kentucky. I always like to tell lawmakers that a one-time investment can lead to a lifetime of improvement. A prime example of this is the 60-year-old grass waterway I have on my farm. The funding for the grass waterway came from a U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation program, which has been instrumental in preventing soil erosion and improving water quality.
Farm bill voluntary conservation programs are significant in terms of environmental benefits and assistance to farmers. Technical assistance, planning, engineering and financial assistance in the form of cost share or incentives provide farmers with the knowledge and economic incentive to help change their operation or maintain a conservation practice. It’s important to point out that one size does not fit all when it comes to conservation.
Many wheat farmers have difficulty participating in these programs because there are limited options for dryland farming in the western U.S., where most of the wheat production is centered. We need a farm bill that gives local flexibility and more options for conservation practices that work across the county, so our growers can take advantage of these programs.
We must also invest in research programs so our farmers can remain at the forefront of innovation, which, for wheat, means increasing the authorization for the U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative. The USWBSI helps provide research-based solutions to Fusarium Head Blight, which can hurt the yield and quality of wheat and barley. The USWBSI is a proven and effective model that funds critical research by scientists at land-grant universities and USDA Agricultural Research Service facilities and communicates the results to the wheat and barley community.
In 2024, $15 million was appropriated by Congress to fund critical research, of which $8.6 million was distributed to 91 principal investors across 30 states to fund 136 projects. These projects play a crucial role in helping develop more resistant varieties, improve disease forecasting and improve food safety. As we look toward strengthening the farm bill, it is important that Congress increase the authorization for the USWBSI from $15 million to $ 20 million to help enhance food safety and supply by reducing the impacts of scab on wheat.
Farmers feed the world, and we care for the soil more than anyone. It’s important that lawmakers in Kentucky and Washington D.C. hear our stories. Producers and rural America need a long-term farm bill that works for them to be passed by Congress this year. I won’t stop fighting until we get this done.
Pat Clement is vice president of the National Association of Wheat Growers, and he is a wheat producer and livestock operator.
