America needs farmers

We celebrate National Farmers Day on October 12, during the height of harvest, to honor the men and women who feed and fuel the world. The dirt underneath my own fingernails, from our 4th generation corn and soybean farm in Northeast Iowa, represents the real-world perspective I bring to Washington’s policymaking tables. A lot of times, that means countering Washington nonsense with Midwestern common sense.

Too many Americans take our food supply for granted. Some are under the mistaken impression food grows in grocery stores, restaurants or take-out containers. When they prepare or buy a meal, they aren’t thinking about avian flu, soil health, input costs or lines of credit that keep farmers up at night.

 Few Americans understand the work that goes into milking dairy cows twice a day, 365 days a year. They don’t consider the daily grind it takes to tend livestock, especially in bitterly cold temperatures, or how farmers put in 16-hour days during harvest season. That’s life for farm families.

 As a vocal champion for agriculture, I make sure bureaucrats hear loud and clear: America needs farmers. Food security is national security – or, as I often say, society is only nine meals away from a revolution. During negotiations on the new farm bill, I’m pushing to strengthen the farm safety net to account for the high input costs pinching the farm economy along the supply chain caused by inflation.

 I like to think today’s farmers in America are following the innovative footsteps taken by our nation’s first president following the Revolutionary War. A visionary farmer, George Washington led new fertilization methods and crop rotations to improve productivity at Mount Vernon. He pioneered a 16-sided treading barn to maximize horsepower and minimize waste when he switched from tobacco to wheat as the farm’s cash crop. Washington experimented with at least seven varieties of wheat to find the best fit for his soil in Northern Virginia.

 Modern farming techniques boost productivity and environmental stewardship to feed more people using less acres. For example, when I started farming, the average corn yield in Iowa was around 45 bushels/acre. Today, we yield, on average, more than 200 bushels/acre. Scientific developments in biotechnology and conservation practices have enabled farmers to better manage weeds and pests and improve soil and plant health.

 Consider the impact of Iowa’s Norman Borlaug. Born and raised on a farm in Cresco, he came to be known as the father of the “Green Revolution.” His pioneering work in plant pathology led to the discovery of a disease-resistant wheat that saved millions of people from starvation. Dr. Borlaug is lauded for saving more lives than any person in history.

 Growing up during the Great Depression, images of hungry families and sheriff sales after farm foreclosures were seared in Dr. Borlaug’s mind, shaping his lifelong quest to eradicate hunger. To critics of biotechnology, which has proven instrumental in combatting hunger and sustaining the global population, Dr. Borlaug observed, “Man seems to insist on ignoring the lessons available from history.”

 Dr. Borlaug is one of five people awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Medal of Honor.

 After toiling decades to combat world hunger and poverty, Dr. Borlaug endeavored to sow the seeds for future pioneers to continue his humanitarian and scientific legacy. He launched the World Food Prize in 1986 to inspire and recognize the achievements of agricultural researchers and scientists. Headquartered in Des Moines, the World Food Prize is known as the “Nobel Prize for Food and Agriculture.” Laureates from around the world have received the award, and thousands of others participate in the annual “Borlaug Dialogue” to address hunger and food security.

 It’s a fitting coincidence National Farmers Day is the same month as Dr. Norman E. Borlaug World Food Prize Day. Like Dr. Borlaug, America’s farmers have a tireless work ethic and commitment to their vocational calling. Visitors to the nation’s capital can pay tribute to this remarkable Iowan in the National Statuary Hall.

Dr. Borlaug put it best: “Civilization as it is known today could not have evolved, nor can it survive, without an adequate food supply.” His philosophy aligns with and informs my efforts on behalf of America’s farmers today.

Did you know? Dr. Borlaug’s boyhood home, birthplace farm and one-room schoolhouse are part of the Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area, a 37-county region recognized by Congress. I encourage families to learn more about Iowa’s agricultural heritage, from dairy farms to vineyards and tractor assembly tours. Silos & Smokestacks participates in the Passport to Your National Parks program. Your National Park Service passport can be stamped at 35 participating sites. Plan your agriculture adventure by visiting https://www.silosandsmokestacks.org/.