News

Six Panels Unpack the Impacts of the Big Beautiful Bill on Rural America, Opportunities for Collaboration Ahead

By Ava Bowman Thomas

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) speaks at Center Forward’s Agriculture Summit on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 in Washington, D.C.

Center Forward’s second annual Agriculture Summit convened a bipartisan slate of lawmakers—including three Senators, three Representatives, and senior congressional staff—for six substantive panels focused on the state of U.S. agriculture policy. The program spotlighted areas where cross-party cooperation remains possible and essential.

Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) opened the Summit with remarks on the reconciliation package. He pointed to expanded safety net provisions as a meaningful step for farmers managing rising costs and unpredictable markets. Ricketts also emphasized the value of current regulatory conditions for biofuels and ethanol, which he framed as a win for rural economies and energy independence.

“Agriculture is the heart and soul of what we do in Nebraska,” said Senator Ricketts. “We’re focused on making sure our agriculture economy remains strong so it can continue to drive our overall economy. One of the great things about agriculture is that it’s a bipartisan issue, and our farmers and ranchers enjoy the support of both Republicans and Democrats.”

The conversation turned to trade in a panel featuring House Committee on Agriculture staff: Harlea Hoelscher, Professional Staff Member for Chairman GT Thompson (R-PA), and Clark Ogilvie, Senior Counsel to Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-MN). Hoelscher outlined the Chairman’s priority to strengthen U.S. competitiveness abroad, particularly in tariff-heavy markets. Ogilvie acknowledged frustrations among Democrats with the reconciliation bill and certain policy tradeoffs but stressed a readiness to re-engage on farm policy through regular order.

Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-MN) reinforced that message while raising red flags about Medicaid cuts in the reconciliation bill, given how many farm families rely on the program. She supported the bill’s safety net expansions. Still, she underscored that removing agriculture policy from the bipartisan Farm Bill framework risks undermining a decades-long tradition of consensus-building in the sector.

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member, focused her concerns around the nutrition title, noting the impact of SNAP cuts amid the high cost of groceries. On trade, she called for action to reduce retaliatory tariffs restricting U.S. producers’ market access. She closed with an upbeat nod to the Minnesota State Fair, an annual reminder of agriculture’s impact on the economy and constituents of her state.

A bipartisan panel of California House Members, Reps. Jim Costa (D-CA) and David Valadao (R-CA) included conversations on the agricultural workforce. Both lawmakers, who represent heavily agricultural districts and come from farm backgrounds, made a strong case for the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which they’ve championed over multiple Congresses. The bill, which would overhaul the H-2A system and create a pathway to legal status for long-standing undocumented farmworkers, remains a top priority as producers continue to face labor shortages.

“It was an honor joining Center Forward for their 2025 Agriculture Summit,” said Congressman Valadao. “As the only dairy farmer in Congress, it was a great opportunity to discuss America’s farm labor economy and the importance of a reliable workforce. Food security is national security, and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find long-term solutions that support our agricultural industry.”

Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) closed the Summit with remarks on land access and rural development. He highlighted his Farm Ownership Improvement Act, which aims to help new and small-scale producers compete with cash buyers by improving access to USDA loans. His panel ended with a call for optimism, arguing that because nearly every Member of Congress represents rural communities, agriculture policy presents many opportunities for bipartisan solutions.

“Vermont has lost over 200 dairy farms since 2020, dealing a major blow to our state’s rural communities and local economies. Policies that increase crop insurance subsidies, target farmworkers, and gut vital USDA programs only exacerbate that problem and hurt small farms in red and blue states alike. If we’re serious about supporting rural America, we need to get serious about pushing back against policies that hurt small-scale farmers,” said Senator Welch. “It was great to join Center Forward to discuss how we can work to achieve bipartisan solutions that better support rural farmers and communities across the country.”

Across the board, speakers emphasized that the agriculture space lends itself to collaboration. The Summit affirmed that when it comes to rural America, there’s still room at the table for pragmatic, bipartisan problem-solving.