Members of the Rebuild Rural Coalition shared insights about the likelihood of infrastructure policy changes at a workshop at American Farm Bureau Federation’s 100th Annual Convention (AFBF), according to the release.
Highlights include:
- Robbie Boone, vice president of government affairs with Farm Credit Council, shared the reason behind the formation of the coalition in 2017: focusing on and bringing attention to the unique needs of rural America. The coalition, of which AFBF is a member, zeroes in on eight priorities for rural America – ag research, broadband, energy, financing, healthcare, transportation, housing and drinking water.
- Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition, highlighted a list of “10 most wanted” infrastructure projects. This includes dredging the lower Mississippi River between Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and the Gulf of Mexico to a depth of 50 feet. Doing so will allow ships to carry heavier loads in addition to attracting large vessels. This enhancement to the supply chain would return $461 million to U.S. soybean farmers.
- Missouri Farm Bureau’s Spencer Tuma shared insights on how state Farm Bureaus and grassroots members can get involved in helping move infrastructure policy forward. Keeping elected officials informed about your organization’s policy positions and desired changes is extremely important to effect change, she said.
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