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Young farmers want local help, too
Story Date: 1/29/2018
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Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 1/26/18
As some groups trek to Washington to make farm bill requests, a contingent of young farmers in New Mexico met with local lawmakers about how state agencies and programs can help supplement the farm bill. Alex Funk, western policy director for the National Young Farmers Coalition, led a group of a dozen farmers to talk about the biggest problems the are facing.
On Tuesday, they met with federal lawmakers like Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham. On Wednesday, farmers met with state senators like Mimi Stewart and Elizabeth Stefanics. Here's how Funk said state and federal lawmakers may be able to help:
- Hire staff to interact more with USDA: Many local farmers aren't taking advantage of USDA programs because there are so few department staffers in the state, Funk said, adding that some serve areas covering more than 600 miles. "It's very difficult for you to leave the farm and apply for an EQIP grant," Funk said. "Increasing funding for local staff, technical assistance, things like that for the farm bill without getting into the weeds of the nuts and bolts would be a huge boost."
- Improve wireless: Although USDA is trying to put more paperwork online, many farmers don't have adequate internet service. In addition to what the federal government is doing, Funk said states could help improve wireless through "public-private partnerships, grants to businesses to offset the costs associated with providing and expanding broadband access and tax credits to businesses/companies providing broadband."
- Improve student loan forgiveness: Funk stressed that "both the federal government and state governments can play a role in addressing the student-debt challenge facing young farmers and ranchers." He said his group was trying to add farmers and ranchers to the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. At the state level, young farmers want New Mexico to establish student loan repayment programs for recent college graduates who operate a farm or ranch.
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