It’s time for a new farm bill — no more extensions

If you are traveling south of Toledo on I-75, you’ll pass two white storage silos emblazoned with the words “Pioneer Sugar.” Those silos are filled with sugar made from sugar beets some of which may have come from my Michigan farm. I’m proud to play a small role in feeding Michigan, Ohio, and surrounding states, which is why I recently traveled to Washington to ask lawmakers to pass a new Farm Bill … now.

Congress has passed two one-year Farm Bill extensions instead of a larger five-year package. It’s no longer an option to keep kicking the can down the road. We need a long-term solution to provide stability for our farmers and ensure the future of family farms like mine.

I am the fifth generation of my family farming in Michigan, working alongside my brother. I know firsthand the challenges of farming in today’s world. We grow sugar beets, edible beans, and wheat, and our farm supports not only my family, but also 20 employees and the broader local economy. The sugar industry, especially, is the lifeblood of our rural communities, providing jobs and supporting local businesses.

The sugar beets we grow are harvested and sent to Michigan Sugar Co., a farmer-owned cooperative, where the sugar made by the plants is extracted and packaged for delivery to food manufacturers and store shelves. Much of that sugar is sent to Ohio storage facilities in Findlay, Fremont, and Toledo.

American-made sugar is an essential ingredient used by Ohio food manufacturers.

At one time, Ohio was also home to sugar beet farms and processing facilities. But as the economics of farming sugar beets has become harder, the industry has contracted. The last Ohio sugar beets were harvested 20 years ago. It’s not just sugar beets; it’s harder and harder for farms to stay in business. American farmers are facing a growing crisis, and we cannot afford to lose any more of the farms and farm families who grow the food we eat.

Farming is more complex and costly than ever, and U.S. farmers are shouldering significant costs to maintain our position as the best, most efficient farmers in the world. Without U.S. sugar policy, our farms could be driven out of business by subsidized, foreign sugar from unreliable suppliers overseas.

The failure to pass a five-year Farm Bill has left us in a constant state of limbo. This affects more than just sugar beet farmers; row crop and dairy producers in Ohio also need the long-term certainty of a five-year Farm Bill.

I’m not just thinking about today — I’m thinking about the next generation. My wife, Melissa, and I have five children and my brother has two, ranging from eighth grade to 24 years old.

My son Dylan is already working with us, and now his son could one day be the seventh generation on the farm. I have high hopes that the next generation will carry the family legacy forward, but the uncertainty around the Farm Bill makes it difficult to move forward with confidence.

We’re calling on Congress to move beyond temporary extensions and deliver the stability our farm families need. The future of our farms, communities, and local economies is at stake. This isn’t just about today; it’s about securing a sustainable future for generations to come.

I strongly urge Congress to pass a Farm Bill … now.