November 2024
On November 5, more than 150 million Americans went to the polls to cast their ballots in the 2024 U.S. general election. Offices up for election included president of the United States, 34 Senate seats, and all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, as well as state and local races.
Since the election, Congress has returned to Washington for the waning days of the 118th Congress with many items on a long to-do list – the farm bill among them. NFU has been pushing to get the farm bill done before the end of the year, though with each passing day an extension becomes more likely.
2024 ELECTION RESULTS
The election is behind us, the results of which will have major implications for agriculture and farm policy in 2025 and beyond. Donald Trump has been elected as the next president and will return to the White House for a second term, four years after losing to President Biden.
In Congress, Republicans won control of the Senate after spending four years in the minority, as Democratic incumbent Sens. Jon Tester (MT), Bob Casey (PA), and Senate Agriculture Committee member Sherrod Brown (OH) were defeated by respective Republican challengers Tim Sheehy, Dave McCormick, and Bernie Moreno.
Republicans have also won enough seats to retain their majority in the House of Representatives. Though a few races remain uncalled, they are projected to hold a similar narrow majority. While Republicans have won a governing trifecta, in which the party in the White House also controls both chambers of Congress, this control may be tempered by slim majorities in Congress and the Senate filibuster, should it be retained.
On the House Agriculture Committee, five current members will not be returning. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) is retiring from Congress and Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) will be heading to the Senate to succeed the retiring Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow. As of November 27, three members have lost their re-election bids: Reps. Marc Molinaro (R-NY), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR) (recently nominated to serve as Secretary of Labor in the Trump administration), and Yadira Caraveo (D-CO).
NFU sent a letter on November 14 to President-elect Trump’s transition team outlining Farmers Union’s priorities for the first 100 days of the new administration. Key priorities include strengthening the farm safety net, promoting competitive markets, and a balanced trade policy. Additional priorities outlined in the letter include support for a simplified tax code that treats family farmers fairly, right-to-repair legislation, access to high-quality healthcare, and a stable agricultural workforce, among others.
Elections often bring new dynamics to Washington. Regardless of the outcome, NFU remains committed to advocating for family farmers and ranchers and will work closely with the incoming administration and new Congress to advance our grassroots policy.
MAKING THE CASE FOR THE 2024 FARM BILL
Throughout 2024, one of NFU’s top legislative priorities has been passing a new five-year farm bill. With only a month left in the 118th Congress, there is little time remaining to get it done.
Family farmers and ranchers need a farm bill that strengthens the farm safety net, provides support for voluntary on-farm conservation, and that makes agricultural markets fairer and more competitive. With declining commodity prices, high input costs and interest rates, and a challenging economic outlook, the right time to get a farm bill done is now.
Earlier this month, NFU President Larew issued a statement urging congressional leadership to take swift action before the end of the year:
Our priority for family farmers and ranchers remains steadfast: Congress must pass a strong, comprehensive five-year farm bill before year’s end. A farm bill provides the certainty and stability farmers need, including a strengthened safety net, disaster assistance, robust investments in conservation and measures to help farmers compete more effectively. While significant work has been done by the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, leaders at the highest levels in both chambers must now make passing a strong, comprehensive five-year farm bill their top priority before the year ends.
NFU also issued an action alert urging members to let their elected lawmakers know we need a 2024 Farm Bill.
As it stands, both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees have introduced draft farm bill texts, but neither has been brought to the floor for a vote. Back in the spring, the House Agriculture Committee introduced their version of the farm bill, which was approved by the committee after a 13-hour markup on May 24. Around the same time, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) released a detailed framework and section-by-section of the farm bill. This month, Stabenow released full text of the bill that was similar to the detailed framework released back in May, but the bill is not currently scheduled for a committee markup, let alone a floor vote.
While NFU will continue pushing for passage of the right farm bill in 2024, the rapidly shrinking congressional calendar this year will make achieving that goal difficult. Short of passing a new five-year farm bill, a second extension of the 2018 Farm Bill will be needed and is looking increasingly likely as the year draws to a close. NFU is advocating for an extension that includes robust disaster assistance and short-term economic assistance to ensure family farmers and rural communities head into next year on solid footing.
NFU RELEASES THANKSGIVING FARMER’S SHARE
As Americans prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving with their families, NFU has released the 2024 Thanksgiving farmer’s share of the food dollar. These figures reveal how much family farmers earn compared to the amount consumers pay for food.
As consumers empty their carts at the checkout lines at their local grocery stores and supermarkets this year, they are likely to see increased costs for certain goods. These rising costs, however, often do not translate to fair compensation for America’s family farmers and ranchers. As consumer prices have continued to go up, so have corporate profits. All the while, the farmer’s share of the food dollar remains at near historic lows.
In a recent statement, NFU President Rob Larew said:
Over the years, corporate consolidation has left our agriculture and food systems fragile and uncompetitive. Today, monopolies dominate everything from food processing and distribution to the markets for seeds and farm equipment, leaving farmers at a disadvantage. This Thanksgiving, as we celebrate with friends and family, we must also acknowledge the challenges our food producers face. Family farmers and ranchers deserve a fair share of the consumer dollar.
Included in the 2024 Farmer’s Share of Thanksgiving Dinner is:
| Food Item | Brand | Retail Price | Farmer’s Share |
| Turkey | Butterball Frozen Turkey 16-20 lb. (price per lb.) | $2.42 | $0.06 |
| Mashed Potatoes | Signature SELECT Farms Russet Potatoes 10 lbs. | $6.99 | $1.22 |
| Stuffing | Mrs. Cubbisons Stuffing Seasoned Traditional Box, 12 oz. | $4.39 | $0.07 |
| Pumpkin Pie | Signature SELECT Pumpkin 100% Pure, 15 oz. | $4.29 | $0.14 |
| Cranberries | Signature Fresh Cranberries, 12 oz. | $2.99 | $0.86 |
| Boneless Ham | Signature SELECT Smoked Cooked Boneless Ham (half), 2 lb. | $15.98 | $1.28 |
| Sweet corn | Signature SELECT/Corn Sweet White, 16 oz. | $2.99 | $0.34 |
| Dinner Rolls | Signature SELECT Artisan White Dinner Rolls 18 oz. | $3.99 | $0.10 |
| Green Beans | Signature SELECT/Farms Green Beans Family Pack, 20 oz. | $5.00 | $0.98 |
Data for this publication were sourced from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service and other industry sources.
Turkey and stuffing, the centerpieces of many Thanksgiving tables, have the lowest farmer’s share of the food dollar of the group with only $0.02-0.04 per dollar spent at retail making it back to growers.
NFU’s Fairness for Farmers campaign is actively addressing the monopoly crisis in food and agriculture. By advocating for stronger antitrust enforcement and greater market transparency, the campaign aims to increase the farmer’s share of the food dollar and ensure fairness for farmers, ranchers, and consumers