Rep. Angie Craig Launches Farmer Advisory Council

Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig launched her Farmer Advisory Council, a group of farmers, producers, and agriculture advocates from Minnesota's Second District to serve as experts on issues facing Minnesota farmers. The group will meet regularly to discuss pressing issues in agriculture so that Rep. Craig can bring their concerns to Washington and find bipartisan, common-sense solutions.

Rep. Craig is a proud member of the House Agriculture Committee, where she has made amplifying the voices of Minnesota farmers a top priority. In addition to bringing farmers to testify before Congress, Rep. Craig has also pushed for smart trade policies that prioritize Minnesota farmers, expand export markets, and improve rural quality of life - including rural healthcare and rural broadband access.

"I've traveled all across this district meeting with Minnesota's hardworking farmers, and one thing is abundantly clear: we need more rural voices at the table in Washington," said Rep. Craig. "I am so grateful to the members of my Farmer Advisory Council for being such strong partners in my work on the House Agriculture Committee, because the best way to push for policies that support our ag economy is to hear directly from the people who power it."

In her first seven months in Congress, Rep. Craig has made it a priority to push for policies that support our ag economy and bring more rural voices to the table. She has:

• Appeared at the 2019 Minnesota FarmFest Listening Session with federal lawmakers, including Chairman Collin Peterson and Secretary Sonny Perdue. Rep. Craig pushed the Administration to implement smart, deliberate trade policies and end the trade war with China.
• Hosted a listening session in White Rock on the state of the farm economy, hosted Minnesota farmers and ranchers at the State of the Union and at a Congressional hearing, and visited farms in Cannon Falls and Farmington.
• Introduced the bipartisan FEEDD Act, which would give farmers and ranchers additional emergency harvest flexibility on prevent plant ground and help alleviate feed concerns. As a result of this bill, the Administration took steps to move the Nov. 1st harvest date for cover crops on prevent plant ground - giving farmers and ranchers much needed flexibility during this wet planting season.
• Secured additional funding for rural broadband and the Rural Energy For America Program and the ReConnect Rural Broadband Program to improve the quality of life in Greater Minnesota.
• Advocated for expanded markets for biofuels as a cosponsor of the Biodiesel Tax Credit Extension Act of 2019.