US Rep. Davids visits local farm, hosts policymakers for Farm Bill discussion

The future of farming in Kansas was the center of the conversation March 27.

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids took local, state and federal agricultural leaders of Congress with her to visit Finley Farms in Edgerton as part of her 3rd Congressional District farm tour she embarked on in 2022.

Davids said the day had been fun and informative, and Finley Farms was a “prime” example of a small, thriving agriculture business.

Finley Farms is a six-generation family-owned and operated farm growing corn and soybeans.

The farm recently used USDA Environmental Quality Incentives Program funding to build a tiled floor and pipe system that allows water to drain properly to avoid land erosion and conserve soil.

Davids said they had the chance to see their operations and learn about their work.

“Kansas farmers and ranchers are the backbone of our nation, providing food and resources to folks here at home and around the world,” she said.

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small said it was through investment that the Finley family was able to look at the best and most efficient way to grow their crops and “be able to pass that farm on for generations.”

“We know we succeed when we invest in farmers and rural communities,” she said.

Former Senator Pat Roberts said a six generation farm is unusual.

“And probably the most serious question we have is where is the next generation of farmers going to come from,” he said. “Finley Farms has that answer so our hats off to them.”

After the tour, Davids hosted Small, Former Kansas Senator Pat Roberts, Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam, along with other policy makers and representatives from the Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Farmers Union, National Crop Insurance Services, Kansas Livestock Association, commodity groups, grocers and local agriculture professionals in a closed round-table discussion about the upcoming Farm Bill, the state of Kansas agriculture, innovation and supply chain issues at Kansas State Research Extension Campus in Olathe.

Davids said she was honored to be joined by so many agriculture and policymakers from both political parties, as she has been working hard for reauthorizing a bipartisan Farm Bill.

Davids said everyone involved has real expertise on agricultural issues, and she learns “a ton” from her peers and how much more she has to learn.

“You can see the economy and the future of our State is so tied up into how well our farmers and producers in the Ag sector are doing,” she said.

Davids said they need to get to the root of the issues folks are facing and addressing the most pressing challenges.

Davids said the Farm Bill is not a partisan issue.

“It’s a common sense solution to lower grocery costs and safeguard our food supply, create good-paying jobs in rural American an sustain Kansas’ agricultural heritage for generations to come,” she said.

Davids currently serves on the House Agriculture Committee. The Third District has also become more rural since the 2022 redistricting process.

Congress failed to make a bipartisan deal last fall. The current Farm Bill law was enacted in 2018 and extended for another year to Sept. 30, 2024.

The Farm Bill outlines federal programs in agriculture, conservation, nutrition and trade. It has experienced political gridlock recently.

Roberts said reaching consensus on the Farm Bill should be concerning and there was a 80 percent chance Congress won’t reach an agreement this year. He previously worked on four farm bills during his time in Congress; serving as agriculture chairman.

“There’s an old expression that the best thing you can do if you’re in public office is to sit on the wagon tongue with the farmers and ranchers and growers and listen,” he said.

Roberts said Davids is doing a great job and sitting on the wagon tongue listening to her constituents.

“Farmers never put their seed in the ground if he or she didn’t have optimism that they wouldn’t have a crop,” he said.

Roberts said, however, this year was different.

“This is different from 2018,” he said. “Always before the Ag Committee would come out with a bi-partisan agreement.”

Roberts said the most important thing is to get a bill passed; especially the Farm Bill.

“To provide farmers certainty and predictability,” he said. “That is the most important question you have with the Farm Bill. Unfortunately, that is not the most important question we see today in the House of Representatives. The stars in our constellation are much different from the ones that we are today.”

Roberts said he “chalks up” the bill’s gridlock issues to ideology and partisanship.

“I am just going to be very frank,” he said. “We have something called the Freedom Caucus. Sounds pretty good. And to some extent they do (from a conservative standpoint) what needs to be done, but now they are saying no far too often.”

Roberts said the actions from the caucus do not represent the House and Senate he once represented.

“And it is very troubling to me,” he said. “I don’t know what to say about that except you’re dealing with an ideology with which I call the eight knuckleheads. I spurned that term, and I feel very strong about it. If you’re an ideologue, they’re right and you’re wrong. No amount of talking or reasonable conversation or whatever is going to bring them to the table. That is what we are faced with.”

Roberts said the Republican party is in danger of losing its majority to (ideological performances).

“And they are not doing their constituents any favors,” he said. “I can only hope that in the end result maybe the Farm Bill will be the one item that people will say we have to get a farm bill on behalf of those who produce food for America the cheapest and the most quality in the world; and also a troubled and hungry world.”

Roberts said he remains hopeful “the logjam” can be broken, but he also has to be realistic.

“It’s about time somebody said the things I just said,” he said.

Roberts said Davids had been a “jewel” with all her hard work trying to bring everyone together. In return, Davids said Roberts had been an invaluable resource for her and her team.

“(The Farm Bill) is not just piece of paper,” she said. “It is a critical piece of legislation and lifeline for our farmers and producers. There are vital resources and protections that help our farmers and producers; whether it is navigating market fluctuations or other unforeseen challenges.”

Davids said everyone needs to do everything they can to make sure politics “doesn’t hinder” the ability to help and support farmers access essential resources for daily decision making, business operations and putting food on their tables.

“Because they are putting food on everyone else’s table,” she said.

Davids fielded questions from the press after addressing questions ranging from the effect the recent Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore would have on Kansas and protecting the rural communities in her district as southern Johnson County continues to see an economic commercial and industrial boom alongside housing.

Davids said the bridge collapse was a shocking tragedy, and they were all thinking of the families impacted.

“I don’t know exactly yet, what the impact is going to be,” she said. “The Baltimore port is actually one that has major imports coming in for particularly for farm equipment and heavy construction equipment.”

Davids said some of her guests at the round-table discussion were going to help her stay apprised of what the immediate impact looks like for Kansans.

“It will be something that will have an impact for both imports and exports, because a lot of exports go out,” she said.

Davids said she views her role as 3rd District Representative as representing everyone.

“I think of this role as being of collaboration and listening and trying to support with federal resources where I can,” she said.

Davids said the work she had seen happening in county and city governments showed that they want to make sure everyone is heard.

“The things that make our communities magic, people know each other, people support each other,” she said. “That is a really important piece of the stuff of these communities.”

Davids said she is working with the municipalities and county governments to make sure that while everyone is excited about the growth in DeSoto, Gardner and Edgerton that “the thing” that makes them special isn’t lost.

“I think that is everything from (the economic boom) and making sure people still have access to some of the great resources that we have,” she said. “Improving access to electricity, broadband-which has been a huge topic of conversation today, and of course storm water, wastewater to prevent flooding, and making sure people can afford to live in the communities they have called home for so long.”

When asked about broadband access, Davids said as part of their tour in Edgerton, they saw places that do not have broadband access.

“The broadband issue, it touches rural communities,” she said. “It touches urban cores. It touches our suburban areas.”

Davids said through three pieces of legislation resources and programs were provided to alleviate the lack of broadband access.

“USDA is actually doing rural development and actually doing quite a bit of work around that,” she said.

Torres Small said the broadband issue is a key example of why rural development is a category under the Dept. of Agriculture.

“Because crucial infrastructure,” she said. “In the 1930s it was electrifying the nation and making sure farms had access to energy. Now it is about making sure they have high-speed internet, and they have that same infrastructure.”

Small said $2 million through rural development was invested for high-speed internet infrastructure.

“All of those awards have been made,” she said. “And I for the first time talked to someone who was connected because of that, and she was from a rural place, had moved away, but wanted her kids to be able to grow up similar to how she did in a rural community. She was able to come back home and do her job from her home and had the internet that allowed her to do that, and her kids could go to the same elementary school she had. And that is the kind of impact we have investing in high-speed internet.”

Small said it is “the last mile that is the hardest,” and many times the high-speed internet gets close to a farm, but to the farm can be the biggest challenge.

“The money is there and working hard to get to the people who need it,” she said.

Prior to the round table, Davids has spent the past two years on a tour throughout the 3rd District visiting a poultry and livestock operation in Anderson County, a co-op in Franklin County, a goat farm in Miami County, an organic vegetable farm in Johnson County, an educational community farm in Wyandotte County, a renewable ethanol producer in Garnett, participated in FFA activities at Spring Hill High School, served school lunch at Black Bob Elementary in Olathe, toured a dairy farm in Garnett and spoken with industry leaders on financial support programs.