North Carolina Peanut Growers Goes to Washington

Written by: Ashley Collins

North Carolina Peanut Growers Goes to Washington

During the first week of March, six members of the North Carolina Peanut Growers Association Board of Directors and I headed to Washington, D.C. Across two and a half days, our group met with 12 different Congressional offices, both North Carolina Senate offices, and had private meetings with House and Senate Agriculture Committee staff working on the current Farm Bill. Additionally, we had independent dinners with Don Davis (NC-01) and David Rouzer (NC-07) and co-hosted a joint reception with the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission for Congressional Representatives and their staff.

If you’re counting, that was nineteen scheduled engagements across 48 hours. In addition to being passionate about peanut policy, comfortable shoes were definitely required.

Our primary objective during each meeting was to emphasize that whether a member of Congress writes policy or votes on it, they must understand how those policies directly impact producers. Specifically, we wanted each office to hear directly how peanut production contributes to the economic viability of communities across North Carolina.

Currently, nearly half—49%—of the 535 Congressional leaders who will eventually vote on a Farm Bill have never actually voted on one before. That means there is a strong likelihood that many members and their staff have limited firsthand knowledge of how the Farm Bill provides an essential safety net for growers by helping create marketplace stability. There is an even greater chance they are unfamiliar with issues such as the transition from the former quota system to today’s marketing program or why maintaining separate payment limitations remains critical for peanut producers during Farm Bill negotiations.

Although our schedule didn’t allow us to visit every North Carolina Congressional office, and our state already has many experienced Congressional leaders, our reception attracted Representatives and staff from across the country who were eager to sample North Carolina peanut and sweetpotato products while meeting the growers who produce these nutritious crops.

Conversations about peanuts, peanut production, and peanut recipes took place with Congressional staff representing states including Texas, California, and New York, among many others.

As a group, we left Washington believing our message had been heard and that those we met with gained a greater appreciation for North Carolina peanut growers who continue producing our nation’s food supply despite increasing uncertainty surrounding the programs designed to protect their operations.

You don’t have to take my word for it. Here are a few thoughts from growers who participated in the trip.

Joey Baker, Bertie County

“I thought the meetings with the congressional staffers were very productive. The staff members seemed familiar with the issues we brought up for discussion. While I felt the staff we spoke with shared the consensus that it is unlikely a Farm Bill will be passed before the end of the year, I feel like our trip was a success.”

Mike Belch, Northampton County

“Our meetings with the Republican House and Senate Agriculture Committees were encouraging and informative for both groups. Sitting across the table from those closest to the process of drafting legislation is valuable for our commodity and our state.”

Dan Ward, Bladen County

“I have been part of many trips to Washington on behalf of our industry. This was one of our busiest, but also one of our most successful. It is increasingly evident that, as growers, we will need to continue making these visits so those we elect understand the challenges producers face and the important role they have as our advocates.”

Cutchin Anderson, Edgecombe County

“I appreciated the opportunity to meet with our Congressional representatives and their staff. In nearly every meeting they invested time to listen to our priorities and ask thoughtful questions about the issues that matter most to us.”

Johnny Layton, Chowan County

“As a grower, I cannot stress enough the importance of standing face-to-face with staffers and Representatives to explain why this legislation matters and how different policy decisions can significantly impact growers.”

Dave Sawyer, Pitt County

“We had a busy week. It was definitely worth the time away to meet directly with our elected officials, especially while discussions continue around a new Farm Bill. I feel like we clearly communicated our priorities and concerns, and hopefully our message made an impact.”