Davids Continues Farm Bill Listening Tour at Garnett Dairy Farm
GARNETT, KS -- Today, Representative Sharice Davids visited the Ratliff Jerseys dairy farm in Garnett as part of her Farm Bill listening tour. After a tour of the family-run operation, Davids spoke with local dairy farmers to learn what Farm Bill provisions they utilize to run a successful small business. Throughout her tour, Davids has visited farms, ranches, and businesses across the Third District to prepare for the 2023 Farm Bill. Davids serves on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee.
"I'm on a listening tour throughout our community to bring Kansans’ Farm Bill priorities back to Washington, including the dairy farmers I chatted with today," said Davids. "I'm optimistic Republicans and Democrats will find common ground to pass a bipartisan Farm Bill that supports our entire food system and economy. That starts with listening to and understanding Kansans' daily experiences, from all corners of our district."
Representative Sharice Davids visiting Ratliff Jerseys dairy farm on her Farm Bill listening tour.
Along with Ratliff Jerseys owners, Davids hosted a roundtable conversation with representatives from Midwest Dairy and other local dairy farmers. They discussed key topics in this year's farm bill, including the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program, which provides risk protection to dairy producers when milk prices are low and/or feed costs are high. The Farm Bill, which is typically reauthorized every five years, is set to expire on September 30, 2023.
Ratliff Jerseys is owned and operated by Ron and Christy Ratliff in Garnett, KS with 60 milking cows and an equal number of replacement heifers. The dairy farm got its start as a 4-H project for Christy more than 30 years ago and has become an award-winning operation. The Ratliffs also operate a small herd of beef cattle. Christy is president of the Kansas Jersey Cattle Association and serves on the Kansas Dairy Commission.
Representative Sharice Davids with Kansas dairy farmers, including Rob Leach, Lisa Leach, and Christi Ratliff.
As part of her Farm Bill listening tour, Davids previously visited a poultry and livestock operation in Anderson County, a co-op in Franklin County, a no-till farm in Miami County, an organic vegetable farm in Johnson County, and an educational community farm in Wyandotte County. Davids also toured a Garnett-based renewable ethanol producer, participated in FFA activities at Spring Hill High School, served a school lunch at Black Bob Elementary in Olathe, and spoke with industry leaders on financial support programs for farmers.
Last year, Davids hosted U.S. Department of Agriculture Undersecretaries Jennifer Lester Moffitt and Xochitl Torres Small for visits to the Third District to learn about the area’s meatpacking and dairy industries, respectively. She was also named a Friend of the Farm Bureau by the Kansas Farm Bureau in 2022. Davids previously joined U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small to announce USDA awarded Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) federal funding to implement a new, climate-smart initiative. This will help Kansas farmers and consumers reduce emissions and access sustainably produced dairy products.